loving art, science and creative kids

                         Winter Warmth

  A cozy house and happy guests take preparation.

Preparing for the Onslaught

Love it?  Hate it?  Bah Humbug.  Holidays bring out many emotions. This season will usher in a particularly busy one for many of us who’ve been isolated from our families for nearly two years. I always thrived during the holidays and looked forward to large gatherings with children and grandchildren. Chaos, noise, and mounds of dishes never bothered me though my back often creaked by the time they went home. 

  From Halloween on, I start looking for the perfect gifts to buy.  In years, when the family assembled at my house, I wrapped presents in my basement listening to Jazz. Now that most of them  won’t be flying in, and because postage is so high, I look for free shipping deals online. Imagining the look on their faces when they open my package is not half as much fun as handing them out. I’ve had to make peace with reality, especially since the pandemic continues. 

  My partner dreads the holidays. The confusion and noise of my large family make him want to retreat to his man cave. He enjoys having one group visit at a time and cringes when 22 people descend at once. Franny also hides—a smart cat. This year Ray will relax because family visits are spread out over the month. There is an advantage to me as well for it will give me time to converse with each person individually.

  Sadness is another emotion that creeps into me during the holidays. Not being able to connect with parents who are dead and distant relatives and friends makes can make me lonely amid our holiday gathering.  Watching decorations go up and listening to carols brings nostalgic moments of the past to remind me that life moves on. So, rather than dwell on them, I prefer to look to the future. Yesterday a grandson called to say he got engaged to a young woman whom I adore. A wedding to look forward to keeps me smiling.

  As nights lengthen and the solstice approaches, I am reminded that life has cycles, seasons change, the sun will return, and though there is much that is bad in society, there is also a reason for hope.  Human beings are communal and festivities draw them together to reinforce shared values and bring out the good. 

  During the holidays, we pay attention to those who are sick, poor, and lonely. We remember wildlife and the environment need consideration. Donating to them swells our hearts and makes us feel good. Remember that dopamine surge I wrote about? Giving is a happiness pill. There isn’t one way to approach the season, but embracing its spirit means bringing joy to others. 

  There are lots of ways to show love and affection so if your goal is to have guests leave your  house with a warm feeling it will take pre-planning. Visits involve more than a trip to a museum, hiking, hearing a concert, or walking through zoo lights. There have to be at-home activities to keep people from flipping on an electronic device.

  One year, our family participated in a creative endeavor organized by a daughter. Everyone was given a randomly assigned name with the  challenge to make a special give. I made an annotated photo album for a son, a daughter wrote a short story for her sister. One child painted a piece of pottery, another made a potholder. A granddaughter wrote and sang a song and her younger sister played a melody on the harp. Our young son made a picture for his dad that looked like a two-legged dinosaur. The family oohed and ahhed at such thoughtful gifts that showered us with love. 

  Reading a play is another thing we often did during holiday gatherings. It took some doing to find a play with enough parts for everyone but it was a great deal of fun to listen to fledgling actors speak their parts.  Afterward, we enjoyed discussing what we read over hot cider and cookies. Imagine reading a Shakespeare comedy in plainspoken English so that young children understand. Try it, it’s a blast.

  Putting a 3-D puzzle together is another holiday ritual. When the first person arrives, the card table gets cleared for a puzzle that will take days to assemble. The fanatics of the family find 3 D puzzles like one of New York City to be especially challenging. It’s a good way to pull youngsters away from computers and cell phones  and have them interact with adults.  By involving them in an activity, noise settles down, the TV’s turned off, and bonding occurs. It is from moments like these that happy memories linger.

  Pre-planning is important to keep your visitors from getting bored.  Do share below some of the activities your family engages in for those looking for ideas to add to their traditions.  

  Art is always for sale. Winter warmth is 24” by 30 “ acrylic painting/ silver Frame.  $450. To purchase contact [email protected].