In thinking about ways to stay sane as mothers over Christmas break, my girlfriend and I decided to bring our 5 darling children to an assisted living center to spread some holiday cheer to the folks living there. We've talked about doing this for months and this seemed the appropriate time to take the plunge. The kids crafted ribbon trees, purchased candy canes and practiced their very favorite Christmas songs before we loaded into the mini van.
Despite the chaos of making this all happen, once we were there the entire experience was dreamy. The children behaved like little angels, they interacted with and sometimes stared at the residents in sweet and gentle ways and sang and played their instruments with innocent passion only little people could exhibit. The staff slowly wheeled people in, some asleep, some alert, to witness our children's Christmas blessing. Even the sleepers could be seen smiling. Some lips subtly moved with the lyrics and some belted out with joy. The residents enjoyed our kids in ways only 80, 90 and 100 year old people could. Our most senior spectator quietly told the little girls that she was 102 years young, to which they looked at her in awe, not quite sure what that really means. Dara and I knew what the meant. We were witnessing a miracle woman of sorts.
We tried leaving a couple of times, only to be stopped in the hallways for mini concerts. Children are a commodity in places like this. They offer a priceless light. We plan to make this a regular occurrence. For all of our sake.
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