• Home
  • About
  • Episodes
  • dadX
  • Dadvocate
  • CBUS Dads
  • What We've Done
  • Contact
The Dadass Podcast
  • Home
  • About
  • Episodes
  • dadX
  • Dadvocate
  • CBUS Dads
  • What We've Done
  • Contact
A community of
​central Ohio dads

Reflecting on Christmas 2020

6/14/2022

0 Comments

 
Full disclaimer to start: I acknowledge, it’s odd to reflect about Christmas in June, but these have been strange times, so I’m going with it. 

I recently stumbled on notes I took the night of December 25, 2020. This was the first I’d seen them in nearly 18 months. I forgot I documented every aspect of that day, but upon discovery, I recall being moved to do so, because I was thankful for that day. 

The notes outlined that we played board games and watched A Christmas Story, my all time favorite holiday movie. The gifts ranged from much-needed golf lessons for me, camping equipment for my baby girl, legos and monster trucks for my son, and horseback riding lessons, personalized stationery, and of course, an American Girl doll for my oldest daughter. The wife and I indulged in mimosas and cheese strata in the morning, and our Christmas feast included brussel sprouts, scalloped potatoes, dinner rolls, and ham.
Picture
None of these details are overly important, although I have dreams of Christmas ham 365 days a year.

After reviewing my notes after a year and a half, there were three particular themes that were significant if not downright special about this day:

  1. This was the first year that we gave each kid a small budget to research and price out inexpensive, yet thoughtful presents for their siblings. That process was certainly endearing, but their biggest excitement of the day was giving their gifts to each other - more than opening their own gifts from Santa. My kids love receiving a present as much as the next spoiled kid, but I know that they now understand the ever-accurate cliche that it’s better to give than to get.
  2. I earned massive brownie points by aligning myself with two of my wife’s best friends’ husbands and collaborating on a surprise long weekend vacation for the three wives for our Christmas gifts to them. While I’ve likely peaked as a gift giver as a result, this gesture modeled one of our family values of prioritizing experiences over possessions for our kids, but also started a precious tradition for my wife, where the three friends now strengthen their bond on an annual trip together.
  3. Anyone in Columbus that holiday will recall that as the sun went down Christmas Eve (or for me, as I started grilling our dinner), our first winter snow of the season rolled in thick. By morning, we had nearly six inches on the ground. White Christmases are rare, but because we had nothing to do and nowhere to go, we spent hours of our afternoon playing in the snow. Simple, joyful, fun brought on by a serendipitous, unique and timely storm reminded us that life can still be magical despite the unprecedented challenges we endured that year.​
Picture
That holiday was special, despite not seeing extended family or friends, which is sad and not customary. My family of five made the most of it, and in the process, developed new, unplanned traditions and made unforgettable memories that I’m forever grateful for and enjoyed recalling - even on the cusp of summer.

-Steve Michalovich, Regular Contributor


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About

    CBUS Dads is a community of central Ohio area dads balancing an active lifestyle with being an involved parent. A Saturday for us may involve enjoying morning t-ball, lunch at a new local spot and an evening at a summer festival with our families. We may live downtown, in the suburbs or somewhere between, but our common thread is that we continue to experience the community we love - now as parents.

    Archives

    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    November 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Photo Credit: Emma Parker Photography
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Episodes
  • dadX
  • Dadvocate
  • CBUS Dads
  • What We've Done
  • Contact