The festive season is here, the Advent calendars and books are out, the Christmas tree and decorations are up and we’ve had the first of Sophie’s panto performances this week.
I tend to find the festive season quite overwhelming and it can be a tough season to navigate with grief anyway. I’m trying to be a bit better on the self-care front this year, making sure I have space for me to get out and do things that I enjoy, and not putting pressure on myself to live up to other people’s expectations. I’ve been saying no a little more this year, and so far it’s helping.
We’ve had some nice moments this week – snuggling up together on the sofa to read the Advent book each evening. Sophie did most of the decorating with the Christmas tree – I just did the breakable decorations near the top and put our Jessica angel on top of the tree. All of our tree decorations are ones that have meaning – we have some in memory of Jessica, some that the children have made and some that have our names on and I love that each of them are meaningful to us.
I’ve been chaperoning at the theatre this week for Sophie’s first two panto performances. It was lovely to watch her from the wings and I’m looking forward to seeing her from the audience this weekend. She’s playing the part of the young Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty as well as being in the junior ensemble.
Thomas has loved having the Advent calendars up. He and Sophie have a chocolate one each and we also have a gorgeous handmade one that their godmother made. Thomas has also made himself a little countdown calendar to count down the days to Christmas. Advent is all about numbers as far as my boy is concerned and he loves it!
What I’ve been grateful for this week:
- Day 332 – I am grateful for some time with Sophie wandering around the Christmas market while Thomas was at Boys’ Brigade.
- Day 333 – I am grateful for the gorgeous knitted Nativity that one of our church members has donated to the church.
- Day 334 – I am grateful for a Jessica-angel at church, made by Sophie at Girls’ Brigade.
- Day 335 – I am grateful that Sophie did a good job decorating the Christmas tree.
- Day 336 – I am grateful for Advent books.
- Day 337 – I am grateful for a lovely morning joining in with a community tree planting event.
- Day 338 – I am grateful that Sophie’s first two panto performances went well.
Other things that have made me smile this week:
- Adding Thomas’s Duckling 3 swimming badge to his blanket. He got his certificate a few weeks ago but they’d run out of badges so we had to wait a bit longer for him to get his badge as well.
- A very positive first parents’ evening for Sophie at secondary school.
- Starting rehearsals for the spring concert.
- Catching up with some of the Calendar Girls cast and getting my 2026 calendar.
Joining in with Raisie Bay for Word of the Week.
I have tried to feel festive but it’s worse this year than ever. But my eldest turned around the other day and said how much he loved Christmas. It really touched me and kicked me into making a bit more effort, so more Christmas shopping done and decorations partially up. Well done to Sophie on her performances and parents evening and well done to Thomas on getting his badges. Plus I love your Calendar Girls calendar.
What a great calendar souvenir of the show. Glad Sophie’s first performances went well, sounds like it’s been a busy week with shows and school things going on.