Election Day, November 6th, 2024. I rolled over onto my side and it was exactly 4:25 AM. My partner’s face was lit by his cell phone. At that moment, I realized that Kamala Harris had lost the election, signaling the onset of a new era marked by fear, intolerance, and uncertainty.
As we waited in bed for the sun to rise and listened for the sounds of our children waking up, we took turns cycling through panic and moments of calm resolve. As a non-binary mother and a proud member of the LGBTQIA community, I found myself imagining an increasingly chaotic and unpredictable future for my family, especially our two young daughters.
In total panic, it took me exactly one heartbeat to decide what our day as a family would look like. I didn’t even have to say the words, and my partner knew what we all needed. He’d stay home from work and my oldest would stay home from school.
“I’ve decided today is Christmas,” I said to my spouse, who was still bleary-eyed and thought he must have misheard me. “Ok, it’s not actually Christmas, but we’re going to have joy in this house today.” I explained. Making joy was all I could imagine doing.
Once the kids were awake, we all gathered in our bedroom for a cozy morning filled with cuddles and laughter. We explained to my 9-year-old why we were keeping her home and what it meant. She asked a lot about this election and initially started to panic at the election results. We wrapped her up and explained that we would always keep her and her sister safe and that today we were going to spend the day making joy in the best way we could.
The plan started with clearing a spot for the Christmas tree and swiftly deciding on a special theme. We’ve never done a themed Christmas, but this just felt right. While browsing the ornaments and lights available for same-day delivery, our vision became clear.
Think pink, sequins, disco balls, and sparkly cowboy hats. That’s right. Our Christmas 2024 theme is Pink Pony Club! I mean, if the world is going to hell, why not co-op the most joyous anthem of the season? Making joy doesn’t need to make sense. It just needs to feel right.
After placing our order, we gathered in the living room to watch Legend of Korra as a family. It was uncanny how much the episode we were watching reflected the state we now find ourselves in as a nation. It was another gentle way to acknowledge our anxiety and also find some glimmers of joy.
As the episode ended and the kids got antsy, we each noticed that we were all on edge. Maybe this episode hit a little TOO close to home. So again, we paused and decided to use a mindfulness app to reset and start fresh.
After some breathing exercises, we decided to snack on whatever we wanted. Each of my kids picked their favorite crunchy treat while my spouse and I opted for some soothing tea. Having a full belly really does wonders for the soul and it’s a great way to start making joy.
Knowing we wouldn’t be able to deck out our tree until the decorations were delivered, we followed our kid’s lead and headed up to the playroom. My girls played with their favorite toys. My spouse napped on the floor, Kindle face down on his chest. Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan played softly through the speakers.
Right now we are safe. Right now, everything is OK.
While the future remains uncertain, this morning illuminated the importance of pausing and intentionally making joy when the world feels overwhelming and frightening.
This afternoon, and every day until who knows when, it will be Christmas in my house.
Look for the glimmers. If you can’t find them, create them.
Sending all my love and hope into the universe for you. Making joy doesn’t need to be expensive or time-consuming but it can make a world of difference.
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