Advent Calendar – 17 December

As the holiday season approaches, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the pressure to create a picture-perfect Christmas. Social media is flooded with images of immaculate trees, expertly wrapped gifts, and families dressed in matching pyjamas. But when I think back to my own childhood, what stands out the most isn’t the presents or how perfect things looked—it’s the moments spent together, the laughter, and the simple traditions that made Christmas feel special.

One vivid memory I have is of making Christmas puddings in my nan’s kitchen. It wasn’t about perfection; it was about the laughter, the mess, and the feeling of being together. Decorating the tree was another highlight—not a designer masterpiece, but a patchwork of mismatched ornaments we loved. After Christmas dinner, we’d pull out board games, sometimes with missing pieces, and play for hours, after convincing my parents and nans that, yes, they really did fancy another round of Rummicub! Then Boxing Day was for visiting my aunt and cousins, where the house was always full of noise and cool older-cousin vibes!

And presents? The only one I really remember was a Girls’ World (a hair-styling doll) – but not because of what it was, but because my brother tripped over it on the landing and tumbled down the stairs! Oops!

Even as an adult, it’s not the gifts that stand out. One of the only presents I clearly remember was from the first Christmas I spent with my husband — his parents gave us a hoover! Practical, maybe, but it’s what happened after that makes it sitck in mind: the box it came in became home to all of our Christmas decorations. To this day, when we pull out that box, with all the layers of tape holding it together, we remember how special that “big gift” felt at the time, and how something so hilariously ordinary has turned into a year-long memory!

Another year, on our first Christmas Eve together, we realised we had no ice and the Baileys wasn’t cold. So we grabbed some snow from the garden—it worked a treat and has since become one of those quirky stories we always laugh about. No mention of presents, though!

When I think about those Christmases, it’s not the gifts or the decorations I’m picturing — it’s the traditions, the connections, and the happiness of being cosy and comfortable with the family.

As adults, we often feel the weight of making Christmas magical for everyone else, but the truth is, the magic isn’t in the presents or the Pinterest-perfect scenes. It’s in the small, meaningful moments we create.

Maybe it’s a family walk to look at Christmas lights, baking cookies together (even if half of them burn), or curling up to watch Love Actually, again! These are the things the little ones will hold onto, the memories that will light up their faces years from now when they reminisce and wriote blog posts about their own Christmases. 😊

So, if the tree leans a little to one side or the stockings don’t match, let it go. If the gifts are fewer or simpler this year, embrace the freedom to focus on what really matters. After all, your presence is far more important than the presents under the tree.

This Christmas, give yourself permission to let go of perfection and lean into connection. Your kids, your partner, and your family won’t remember the perfectly staged holiday photos or the expensive toys; they’ll remember how it felt to spend time with you.

Help me prove my point by sharing your favourite childhood Christmas memories and traditions below!

Here’s to creating imperfect, magical memories that you’ll all carry with you for a lifetime. 🎄❤️