Use Your Accent

Preparing for our first Christmas in England has been simultaneously chaotic and fun. I’m a big advocate of holding off on Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but with no Thanksgiving to draw a line in the sand, it felt like Christmas here started right after Halloween!

There were so many school celebrations that were new to the kids: Nativities, choral concerts, Elf Runs, a Christmas Fayre…the list went on and on! They did so great preparing and practicing and performing!

The holidays are always a mixed bag of emotions for me and I spent a lot of time thinking about my dad this festive season. He never missed a school event. He was at every sporting meet, every band concert, every awards presentation. And I always felt better once he arrived. Even as complicated as our relationship was, once I knew I had a fan in the audience, it was like I could put that worry aside and focus on the task at hand. Thank you, Dad, for giving me that gift.

There were three Nativity performances to attend at the kids’ school, which is a lot, in my opinion. But in the spirit of my dad, I just couldn’t miss a single one. And I am so grateful I have the scheduling flexibility to be so present because the look on their faces when they saw me/us in the audience was amazing! The elation. The pride. The sweet waves. 💜

Maybe that is all my dad was ever chasing: a momentary burst of a parent’s heart when you lock eyes with your child and they say, without words, I know you see me and I am glad you’re here. I get it now. And I will carry my Dad, in my heart, to every one of my kids’ events.

I digress. My favorite event was certainly the choral concert! How often do you get to watch your big guy sing in an 11th century cathedral?! For us…well…probably twice.