Making Magic Happen

You are responsible for the magic that happens in your home and your life. You're probably already creating it...

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”
― J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Can I let you in on a secret? And it is going to sound so ridiculous you would be forgiven for unsubscribing to my newsletter right away…

During the excitement and build up that is Christmas Eve, I get so caught up in the magic that I forget that Father Christmas is actually me. Isn’t that mad? After the children have put the snacks by the fireplace, carefully and dutifully laying out their stockings, I bend down next to them and absorb their excitement. Little flushed cheeks and glinting eyes look up at me with anticipation and I match them, staring back in wonder at what will happen next. As I usher them to bed, it suddenly dawns on me I now have a job to do. In creating that magic bubble, I have completely forgotten it is in fact me (husband and wife team) that now need to pull off that final instalment of Christmas magic and take on the role of FC.

Isn’t it amazing that every year we are able to create magic for our children without even realising how special this is? Amongst all the busy, hectic and stress, we have conjured up stories of make believe that our children will remember forever.

Hello and welcome to the first post of 2024 🎉

I am feeling ALLLL the good vibes as we kick off the year. Last January was awful and so I reckon we can’t have one any worse than that…surely 🤞🏻

One of my goals for the new year is to walk at least a mile every day. This is to keep fit (of course) but also because walking makes me happy. I am sure my parents will laugh when they read this because I liked to protest when I was younger at the mere mention of a walk. But in being dragged on lots of hikes across the Lake District fells, I have developed a humbling love for the outdoors and walking brings back happy childhood memories.

During yesterdays walk, I reflected on our Christmas. It was lovely as we were altogether at home, surrounded by our family and friends over the festive period. I was exhausted however, from doing all the prep. By the time the kids broke up from school (the 22nd December), I had bought and wrapped all the presents, ordered the Christmas food shop and stocked up on the Christmas drinks. I had cleaned, washed and ironed everything in preparation for taking time off from housework for a few days and spent that Friday driving around Northumberland dropping off and collecting presents for friends. It’s a lot isn’t it? I don’t think I need to tell you that, as I am sure you were doing the same.

Even though I was organised and convinced I had put everything in place for a restful Christmas, I STILL felt exhausted and that the joy of Christmas had been zapped from my body. I love December and Christmas - I wait all year for it. So the fact I ended up tired and annoyed, was disappointing. So I wrapped myself up and started walking.

Then, a friend shared with me something she had seen on Facebook.

Your children believe in magic, because of you.

And well, that tipped me over the edge.

(Actually, what really tipped me over the edge was something much sadder and was the point of December I realised Christmas had done me in. I was leaving the supermarket with a trolly full of Christmas food and extra bits and bobs, on the windiest day in December. I had my reusable bags perched on the top of my trolly and as I headed across the car park a huge gust of wind picked them up and scattered them all around the car park before I had time to grab them. My purse fell out of one so while I dived to grab that, one hand still on the trolly, I watched every single bag scatter. And no-one stopped to help. They just watched. I went back to search for my unruly bags after I had safely transported the food into the car and abandoned the trolly in the designated bay, but by that point they had all disappeared. I’m ashamed to say that I returned to the car and cried. Then I realised how sad this was and that perhaps, despite my best efforts, Christmas had won again.)

But anyway, let’s go back to the magic because that is a much nicer image than a sad me in a car, crying over shopping bags.

The reason I wanted to write about the magic we create, at the start of the year is because in the darkness of winter, it is always helpful to look for positives. I find winter is my most creative season. Book ideas, projects and even house plans, all seem to come to me during the winter. I like to light candles or turn on the fairy lights to create a cosy atmosphere. We spend more time together as a family, playing board games and watching TV. It seems to me, that if we want to start creating magic for ourselves and for our children, then winter is the best time to start.

Remember that magic could be making those dreams happen. Finally getting on top of those niggly house jobs you have been putting off for months (or probably even years!), reading snuggled under a duvet altogether, or going for long walks in the woods and searching for moving objects between the trees.

It might sound silly to some, but I think it is exciting. Perhaps we all need a little bit of magic in our lives and we are the only ones who are going to make that happen.

The excitement to see what 2024 will bring ✨

Do you know what I had to go out and buy today? Nit shampoo. Not shampoo for pet nits, but shampoo to get rid of the little blighters. They have been making their way around my daughters class and while she has the longest and thickest hair, I feel we have done well to get this far avoiding them. But I fear, as she itched her head this morning, the time has come. It beats last years sickness bug so I’m not too worried. But what a way to kick off the year eh? That’s motherhood and definitely not the magical side…

I hope to continue to write to you weekly throughout the year: no more nit stories I promise, but I do write about parenting so who knows what that might bring up, as well as creating a freelance writing career and chasing those big dreams. Also, paid subscribers receive bonus instalments, although I am sure after this chat you may wonder why you would want to subscribe for more… but just in case you do, I write short stories and share ways to embrace a cosy home whatever the season. The idea is it will ease you into your weekend as we all take a sigh of relief we have made it through another working/school week.

Keep looking for the magic, it is following you around.

✨

Lots of love,

Beth x