The beautiful sign in this picture is now hanging in our kitchen thanks to a very dear friend who is equally committed to the magic of Christmas and very invested in making sure it is alive and well at our house this year. I love the powerful words it displays:

May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.

What a perfect way to summarize this special season. A season where it is so easy to get swept up in the holiday hustle and bustle that we forget to look up at those skies, our children, or each other. The thing is that challenge doesn’t end when this season comes to a close. As parents, we must work all year long not to be so grown up that life’s precious moments pass us by. Those moments that define us can most certainly exhaust us, and in our efforts to simply survive we forget to look at those magical skies otherwise known as the faces of our precious children. So, here is my wish for all of us today

May you never be too grown up to…

Read one more story.

Throw one more ball.

Slide down the slide.

Cannonball into the pool.

Be tickled.

Drink hot chocolate.

Play pretend.

Listen to the explanation (or argument).

Snuggle.

Watch the bug.

Not know the answer.

Be in awe of something beautiful.

Believe.

Find the joy,

Jessica

Jessica McCauley, M.Ed. is a parenting coach/consultant. She draws on her background as a Montessori educator and Child Life Specialist to help families navigate the challenges of the early childhood years. Contact Jessica at http://smallhandsbigsteps.com/contact/ for more information or to schedule a consultation.