Last night, I took my girls to see the English National Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.
It was festive, magical, and everything you’d hope for this time of year.
But amidst the snowflakes, twirling dancers, and Tchaikovsky’s sweeping score, I realised the performance wasn’t the most beautiful thing in the room.
It was my daughter’s face.
She was completely captivated.
Her eyes sparkled with joy and wonder, and for those two hours, nothing else existed for her but the magic unfolding on stage.
I couldn’t stop watching her, completely taken by the sheer awe she radiated.
And that’s when it hit me, this was a moment to hold onto.
Work, schedules, to-do lists, they pull us forward every day.
We drive, we build, we plan.
But sometimes, especially at Christmas, we need to stop the car, step out, and just be.
This time of year moves quickly.
The countdown to Christmas feels relentless, and before you know it, the wrapping paper is in the bin, the turkey’s been eaten, and the season’s magic feels like a blur.
But there are these moments, tiny, fleeting pockets of time, that slow everything down if you let them.
Watching The Nutcracker was wonderful.
But watching my daughter watching The Nutcracker?
That was something else.
It wasn’t just about the show; it was about the experience.
It was about being present, soaking in the now, and realising that the magic of Christmas isn’t always found in the big moments - it’s in the quiet ones.
It’s in her face lighting up at the snowflake scene.
It’s in the way she leaned in just a little closer during the Waltz of the Flowers.
It’s in the memory of being there together.
For all the parents, families, and busy professionals out there: don’t forget to pause this season.
Take in the sparkle of the lights, the music of the moment, and the faces of the people you love most.
These aren’t just Christmas memories - they’re the ones that last a lifetime.
Sometimes, the greatest joy isn’t in what you achieve, but in what you observe and share.