Do you recall your childhood holidays?

As a teacher of 3-year-olds, I experience the joy of the holiday season through a child’s eyes every year.

The innocence and excitement of everything they see bring back memories of my childhood holidays.

I asked the kids if anyone had put up holiday lights on their house. All at once, this led to a wide-eyed discussion about how they each decorate.

I did not need to talk since they led the entire conversation about their holiday visions.

One of the kids asked me how I decorated my house, which led us to the topic that some people celebrate other holidays. I told them about Hanukkah and how I celebrate for eight nights.

They listened again with curious eyes and more prominent ears when I brought each a bag of chocolate coins.

Do you recall your childhood holidays?

All the talking brought back the warm feelings of seeing the presents sitting on the fireplace in my childhood home. I have six brothers and sisters, so imagine how piled high the gifts must have looked to a child.

Some years, my parents would hide the gifts all over the house, and we would have to find them individually. This prolonged the gift-opening process. I can now understand why a parent would want to savor that moment as long as possible.

When I had my son, my parents and inlaws continued to make the holiday season as unique as it had been when I grew up—making my son memories of his childhood.

Now, as an older adult, the gifts are fewer, but that is okay.  What is important has changed.

Each year, I cherish the moments I have with my family differently. Some are no longer here. Those that are I hold onto as profoundly as I can.

That is my true gift each holiday.