My friends, this is a story about my one true love, my family.

My husband and I have always taken off the week between Christmas and New Years, it’s tradition we started once the kids entered school.  It became our week to relax and recharge together.  However, when we started our tree service, the seasonal work became work all year long.  We were fortunate for that blessing, but it kept my husband very busy.  It was partly because he was excellent at what he does, but also due to him as a person.  People like working with him.  His children loved being with him.  I loved talking with him.  It just didn’t seem like there was enough of him to go around.
Over the years we’ve purchased some fun equipment for the business, equipment that needs to be maintained, as well as, a property to house our trucks and machines. During his time off, my husband was excited to check those chores off his list.
Our children go to a small Catholic school, back in session full-time despite the pandemic. Although his face-to-face time with the kids was daily it was limited to morning wake-ups and evening bed routine during the week. Weekends we were always all together, but there was always something to do for the business.  Oils to change, knives, blades, and chains to sharpen and change.  You get it.
My husband is a loving and devoted father equal to being a hard-working business owner.

Five days into Christmas vacation, my son came inside from helping his Daddy with graveling the driveway.
“I think Daddy thinks work is fun!” He seemed tired and displeased by the thought of work as fun.  Ry was dressed head to toe in Carhartt to be “just like Daddy.”
“Do you think work is fun?” I asked him.
“Ehh” And off he went to watch TV, somewhat discouraged about his time outside.

This got me thinking about the time spent doing nothing with the kids, and what we as parents have planned verse what children are looking for.

When New Year’s Eve rolled around and Mr. asked me to make plans, I knew exactly what the children wanted.

First, I’ll tell you what Mr. wanted.

Mr. wanted to invite friends of the children over, a tradition we had created over the past few years. Since we don’t drink, we had become everyones designated drop off on NYE. However, with Covid being what it was, I didn’t want to invite people over.
Then he asked if we could find a place to go, watch fireworks, see sights, and get out of the house. I knew this wouldn’t work either. Fireworks in Philly had been canceled and most attractions were going to be crowded.

I told him what we were going to do without any room for negotiating.
“We will stay home. We will buy our own fireworks, play board games, and stay home just the four of us.” I continued on, “All they want is to be face-to-face with you. Trust me, this will make them happy.”

It’s funny the things I’ve learned from my children when I truly stop to listen. Nothing is more valuable than the following: a parent who wasn’t looking at their phone, an adult who truly listened to them, and a father who put down work with nothing else planned but playtime with them.

Yes. That was amazing.

New Year’s Eve as Casino Night.

My daughter spent hours prior to Casino Night making entrance ID cards. She even used our driver’s licenses as a model for her cards.

We taught our 8 and 10 year old how to play 5 card stud, a round-robin of Connect 4, and Uno attack. We set off fireworks throughout the night.

At one point, my son confided in my husband, “This is the best New Year’s Eve ever.”

As the year ended and the world rejoiced to be rid of 2020, I felt a new appreciation for family.

I felt gratitude on a very deep level. Gratitude for the gift of awareness for my children’s needs.

My husband felt it too.  He understood exactly what I had meant when I said, “Husband, my love, all they want is you.”