When I was growing up, nothing compared to the excitement of retrieving the mail and discovering the Sears or Service Merchandise catalog. I would spend hours going through them, carefully marking the items I hoped to receive for Christmas—everything from toys and clothes to the latest gadgets of the ’80s. It was a cherished childhood tradition that I hold dear.
Now, my own children experience the same thrill, albeit through Target, Amazon, and brands like Lego and American Girl. They eagerly flip through the pages, searching for treasures, and I often find items circled with different initials, letting me know what each child wants from Santa. However, this year, there are only three sets of initials. My eldest son has quietly stepped away from the Christmas catalog tradition, and honestly, it leaves my heart feeling a bit heavy.
As a teenager, he has outgrown much of the holiday magic, yet in my mind, he’s still my little boy. Now he opts to text me links to the latest AirPods he wants or simply asks for cash to save for a new gaming system. While it’s practical and far easier for me to add items to my cart, it feels somewhat soulless. It just doesn’t capture the spirit of Christmas.
Despite this shift, there’s still some holiday enchantment in our home. My younger kids still believe, and we have an elf that visits each night, leaving little notes. This elf, named Buzz after his favorite “Toy Story” character, has become a part of our tradition. It feels like just yesterday when we were joyfully celebrating those magical Christmases, and I often wonder why time seems to fly by so quickly. Although my eldest may no longer engage with the elf, he plays along for the sake of his younger siblings, and I’m grateful he’s not a Grinch looking to spoil their fun.
In the past, I would decorate our home the night after Thanksgiving while he slept, setting the stage for the season’s magic. The look on his face when he awoke to find the decorations was priceless. Now, he helps me hang ornaments and even indulges my love for Hallmark movies in the background. I appreciate his willingness to share in these moments.
He no longer looks for Buzz the elf or talks about visiting Santa. However, the spirit of those innocent Christmas seasons lives on in our home. I have a special memory tree filled with ornaments from family vacations, anniversaries, and handmade treasures from my children. Each ornament is a reminder of the joy we shared, and these keepsakes will continue to brighten our cold December nights.
As our kids grow, it might feel like the magic of the holidays fades, but perhaps it just needs to transform. Last year, I introduced my two oldest boys to “Christmas Vacation,” and they loved it, especially Clark’s memorable rants. They’ve already asked when we can watch it together again this year, which warms my heart.
The Christmas catalogs for this year are already on our table, waiting to be explored. My eldest still enjoys building LEGO sets with his dad. I might toss that catalog on his bed just to see if he engages with it. I’ll even include a fresh Sharpie and a note from Buzz reminding him that Santa is still watching for ideas. Who knows? Maybe there’s a bit of magic left hidden behind those earbuds and smartphones.
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