a little christmas glow

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve actually photographed the kids’ rooms for Christmas.

It dawned on me the other day that this is the first year they’ve all had their own spaces for Christmas, since our youngest was an infant. With the exception of our oldest, all of their spaces have changed. We moved out this summer and refinished the floors, right after moving into our primary suite. We played musical bedrooms for a while… and now that we’re all finally settled {still putting those finishing touches on the rest of the house} I just wanted to capture it. It’s their sweet spaces as they’re all “dressed up” in simple ways, for Christmas. 

Being totally honest, I should have known better than to take this on. The high hopes of capturing a little magic sans dirty laundry was too strong to resist for me. Behind these shots, means a lot of prep. 

With two high schoolers and one in middle, this finals week feels like a race to the finish line, after a really really long marathon. 

Who’s idea was it to make midterms right around Christmas? I’m guessing the same people who still adhere to the time change. When we’re all kind of exhausted, with a touch of the sniffles and trying to get through obligations galore… let’s throw in high pressure grades and tests and stress. Happy holidays, world.  

But I think we’re all gonna make it. Obligatory Christmas jammies {because they STILL humor me} and all. 

They’re in the first rounds of finals today as I write this. Compounded with staying after school for meetings, and more obligations which we really try to keep to a minimum around here, because mental health, it’s always a lot. I think everyone feels the same. 

There are ELA papers and reports due and my oldest had an entire 3D model of a floor plan via architecture to finish for school. Let’s just say we all have a few hot glue gun burns due to our assists. And that’s just off the top of my head. 

School is brutal in December. Life can be, too.

So, last week while they were at school, Jamin and I decided to tackle upstairs. We didn’t want to bother them while they were at home, {they get a little eye-rolly these days when I invade their space when they’re home in the name of photography} and figured it was the least disruptive time.

We threw in some garland. Finished up some seasonal decorating. Made beds. Yay festive. 

And I said all this to say that styling their rooms for our shoots, just hits a little different now. 

I guess instead of shoving barbie dolls and lego men out of the way, it’s laundry, dirty bowls and cups. Blankets, schoolwork and pillows. If anyone is looking for spare cutlery, I know it’s probably under my youngest’s bed. 

I live by the mantra of “Make your bed! Every day!” a-la a peppy Mary Poppins take on life, ultimately dying by the wayside of good intentions long ago with juicing and flossing daily. 

Because in the rush of every single morning, it’s a miracle just to get them out the door in good spirits.

And then I think… if fussing over dirty dishes and unmade beds are the biggest problems we have right now, I’ll take it.

Every day. 

It’s really easy to judge the parenting tactics of those with older kids until you actually have older kids. When people would write about dishes in their kids’ rooms, “I’d be all, what are you, feral? I could NEVER.”

::promptly brushes goldfish crumbs off sofa for dogs to eat::

Because you know what they say about good intentions and people who think they know better. {I’m not really sure what they say, but this one sounded good.}

So while I feel like an olympic coach literally cheering for everyone to drag it across the finish line this season, providing ample nutrients and checking in on statuses, leaving encouraging quotes in their lunches, helping them cope with friend issues and all the emotions and adjustments… It’s just part of learning to navigate life {WHEW}

There’s just something about getting their rooms “all photo ready” and documenting the pretty version that brings me a little satisfaction in the midst of mass chaos. And in case I want to look back fondly in complete denial, I’m sharing the why, right here. 

I never want others to see these rooms and think they always look this way. That’s hilarious. Right now I’m pretty sure a garland fell, and those beds won’t be made again until January. Right now we’re all just doing what we can. Right now, all that matters to me, is that we tried. 

I know that one day, I’ll miss clearing all these little things out of the way. 

I’ll miss the ice cream-encrusted bowls and the stacked cups of I-don’t-know-what, and finding still-to-be-eaten stashes of Halloween candy before the pups get to it first. {Let’s just say Rigby has a stomach of steel.} 

One day they’ll come home for Christmas, and I’ll have their little trees waiting for them. Without shoving a single thing out of the way. Even if I do joke with them that each space will be dedicated to a new hobby… pottery room, anyone?

It’s an interesting journey, this whole parenting gig. It’s amazing to have our own little people who are growing into such beautiful, independent thinkers. It’s incredible to watch them handle challenging issues in real-time, with empathy for others. They’re learning to navigate life on a level we never had to.

While I’m glad to say goodbye to some obnoxious, pressure-ridden versions of Christmas like elves on the shelves…. {see us, scurrying around like psychopaths each morning because we forgot and each child literally believed right into the fifth grade – yes, they’re still displayed for funsies.}

There’s something about each year, and watching them grow, that always makes my heart ache just a little more.

In a really good, bittersweet kind of way. 

So I shared a little Christmas here, because I wanted to remember. This season, and where we are… it’s one of gratefulness, and just trying to get through this last week before we can finally collapse and recharge.

And when you see “perfect” spaces, know that it took us an entire morning of prep, to get it that way. Just like everyone else. Because sometimes I lose my everlovingmind all in the name of a good, old-fashioned photograph.

Whether they want to admit it or not, their faces lit up a little when they came home that afternoon.

Even the oldest, who declared he didn’t want a tree in his room this year. 

I respect his boundaries and told him what we were doing ahead of time, along with the fact that we would remove it, as it was just for the photo – he knows the gig.  

But he left it. And he still plugs it in each night for a little of that Christmas glow. 

So here’s to getting through the season, parents of teens. A little less of the barbie action and a whole lot more of just being there. Because the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse days were pretty nice, and I only thought they were hard. But I wouldn’t trade this stage, for anything.

Dirty food bowls under beds, random laundry piles, and all. Here’s to celebrating a little of that magic in your very own way. Because it’s the little things that still matter. 

Here’s to a little Christmas glow.