Giving a child a memorable holiday season is best accomplished by understanding his or her's wonderment of the season.

I recall my parents driving around the town to look at the lighted houses and then driving to our small town's electric company to view a beautiful electric train track their employees set up inside of their window.  We would go from there to our home and have a cup of hot chocolate and talk about what we had just seen.  As I look back, this is what I remember most, not the gifts that I got, although I do remember the socks and underwear I received from my Aunt Martha - since it was so predicable, like clockwork every Christmas eve.

With my own children, we would go to the lighting ceremony at the Denver City and County building each year and, as a father, I could see the wonderment in their beautiful eyes.  Putting up the Christmas tree and decorating it also a pure joy to them.  I loved those times, I wish I could still have them, but they pass by in a blink of an eye, so, please enjoy the moments while you can.

Through a child's eye this is a wonderful time of the year, magical and full of hope.  But beware; this time can be spoiled by bickering with their mother, or displaying poor behavior such as drunkeness or anger.  It is a time to honor their opportunity to enjoy and wonder, a time to put away any possible negative agenda on their parents part and to live through their eyes for awhile.  In doing this, you just may find that child in you again, and you just may find the hope and joy in your own life that you didn't know you still have.

Happy Holidays!