Magic comes to those who make it, and I strongly believe in the sorcery of believing everything as a child. Children have an alarming clarity at times, and the ability to be able to see the world from a different point of view; a stance so far unaffected by politics and sadness and life events that willshape their future and colour their perception.
When I was a kid, my parents and grandparents revelled in the theatre of the Tooth Fairy and Father Christmas, with mince pies bitten and carrots carefully nibbled when we came bouncing through on Christmas morning. My dad still wildly claims that one year he REALLY DID hear Santa on the roof (although that was the year he got drunk and also claimed he had been abducted by aliens when we found him asleep round the toilet the following morning), and I believed in the tooth fairy for far longer than I should thanks to a timer switch in my Gran’s house and a set of grandparents with vivid imaginations.
And I do the same for my Goddaughters. You won’t catch me debating the truth in the elves or if Rudolph’s nose really shines; if you can’t believe in the magic of children and the awe of the way they see everything then your world will be a smaller place. Every year I write them a letter from Father Christmas in response to their Christmas lists, alluding to being good and nice to Mummy, and ‘find’ it on the doorstep on my way in. Lilly loves to announce to everyone she knows that Father Christmas answers her, and that she absolutely has to be good to be in with a chance of getting “a dolly what poos” for Christmas this year. The mind boggles.
I love to lie on the grass in the summer with my little dumplings and play the cloud game – seeing if we can spot the different layers of clouds shaping dragons and princesses, cars and trains, for the wind to blow and the picture to change again. I play this all the time and often get laughed at for being dreamy and whimsical, but when I have two chubby little hands in mine, fingers entwined and a captive audience, I just know I can see a princess in a castle waiting for her prince, or a dog with a bone looking for the sun. And I love to hear the excitement in their voices when it comes to counting down to the visit from the big man himself; will he eat the mince pie? Will he not be too full after eating all the other mince pies from the other children? What if Rudolph is too tired to fly?
As JM Barrie once said, “On these magic shores children at play are for ever beaching their coracles. We too have been there; we can still hear the sound of the surf, though we shall land no more.”
As much as I moan about mince pies in the shops in August and people carolling way too early, I’m super excited about their little faces when the tree is decorated and the Christmas pjs are out 
What do you love most about the season?
I’ve written about magic and children before, if you enjoyed this you might enjoy these posts:
Mary: The Truth about the Toothfairy
Tinkerbelle 
Lovely! I totally agree that we can learn so much from children. They have such honesty and such an ability to find joy, magic and curiosity all around them. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of trying to find the fairies in my Grandmas garden. Thanks for the happy reminder! 🙂
Cat
I was unable to have children of my own, but was adopted by my God daughter’s family who I helped make Christmas special! 🙂
The kids are all grown and have children of their own – God Daughter Becky is due her fourth child – but I am always invited to Christmas dinner with the extended family.
As long as there are children I will still believe in the magic of Christmas.
Love and squishy hugs!
Prenin.
Don’t ever lose that attitude of play and wonder and mystery! It will serve you well throughout your life. I’m almost 50 and trying to have more of that in my life. My son, who will be 11 in a month, still believes in Santa Claus. Every year I wonder if he’ll discover otherwise, but so far he believes. Lovely post!
i love everything about this and agree with all ) love this post – beth