There’s a certain kind of energy that shows up when Christmas is coming. Not the tidy, Hallmark-movie kind—but the real kind. The kind that requires coffee, 80s one hit wonders playlists, deep breaths, and remembering why you’re pulling out bins from the storage closet that only sees light once a year.
This year, Christmas decorating feels different. Heavier and lighter at the same time.
Because this is the year my husband is dressing up as Santa.
Not for little kids who’ll believe without question—but for our whole family: our 16- and 19-year-old sons, who no longer believe in Santa but will once again believe in the spirit of Santa after realizing its their dad dressed up as Santa… and our 3-year-old twin nephews, who are completely about to lose their minds in the best possible way when Santa rings the doorbell and walks in with his ho ho hos and his pillow-filled belly.
And honestly? Watching my husband get excited about it has been its own kind of Christmas miracle.
A Grown Man, a Red Suit, and Pure Joy
He’s never played Santa before. Never even talked about it. Although a part of me has always known he had it in him. In fact, way back before we had our own kids, he would gather all the Disney toys and videos he had (we worked at Disney) and anonymously drop them off on his neighbors porches a few nights before Christmas. This year, he’s upped his game by wanting to dress the part.
Maybe it’s the nephews. Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s that quiet realization that time moves faster than we think—and moments like this don’t come with a rewind button.
He’s asked questions. Thought about details. Practiced a kind and less jolly laugh so as not to spook the littles. Worried (just a little) about pulling it off. And every time he talks about it, there’s this spark—like he’s excited to create magic, not just watch it happen.
Seeing your partner light up like that? It changes the whole season. And reminds me that my picker 20+ years ago was on to something that I would have to wait to see.
Decorating When Energy Is a Choice
Here’s the truth: decorating doesn’t come easy anymore.
It’s not about knowing how—I’ve done this for decades. It’s about summoning the energy to care enough to make the inside of the house feel warm and intentional instead of rushed and half-done.
Because decorating is emotional work.
It’s deciding that this year still matters.
That the boys—teenagers and young adults—still feel Christmas magic even if they pretend they don’t.
That the twins deserve wonder.
That our home deserves the effort.
So I take it one room at a time.
I put on music that pulls me back to older Christmases. I let myself decorate imperfectly. I don’t aim for magazine-ready—I aim for memory-ready.
The tree doesn’t have to be flawless.
The lights don’t have to be perfectly spaced.
What matters is the feeling we’re building around what’s coming.
Holding Space for All the Ages
This season sits at a crossroads.
We’re parenting teens on the edge of adulthood while hosting toddlers who still clang bells and shout “Santa!” with reckless joy. The house holds eye rolls and wide eyes, sarcasm and wonder—all at the same time.
And somehow, my husband in a Santa suit ties it all together.
Because no matter how old we get, magic still finds us when we let it.
Choosing Magic on Purpose
Decorating this year isn’t about checking boxes.
It’s about making room—for laughter, surprise, belief, and a grown man willing to sweat in a red suit just to see kids smile.
It takes energy, yes.
But it gives something back.
A reminder that joy doesn’t disappear with age.
It just asks us to participate.
And this Christmas?
We’re all in.
If you know someone who might want to play Santa, we got this on Amazon for a price much less than I thought! Its pretty good quality for a first time Santa. Click here for the link. (p.s. I am an Amazon affiliate and do make a small commission from any purchase made off my link. Thank you.)
