Hello again
This time of the year use to be exciting for me. I would start to bring the Christmas decorations to mom's. Getting the room all wonderful. Searching the stores for more and different items to add to mom's Christmas decorations. Each year I would add more and change things up, so it does not look like it did the year before.
I would carry everything by bus, out to White Rock,from Coquitlam.. A three hours bus ride. It was very exciting for me to do this. I felt the Christmas magic. It was in my heart for my mother. To do these things for her.
My place had nothing. No decorations. Why! I was never there, except to eat and sleep. Then off to mom's for the day. Everyday.
Mom would help as much as she could. I would get her to hold things while I put them up. Mom was right there the whole time, while I was decorating. I would move her wheelchair around so she could help. Mom would hand me things. Try to do as much as she could.
I saw the frustration on her face as we did this. Wishing she could do more. I always said to her. Mom don't worry, you are doing the best you can and you are helping me. I do appreciate it. She would smile and laugh. I know mom was completely interested in helping to decorate her room. I would ask what she liked and if this is a good place to put this decoration. Would you like Blue lights or Red lights this year. Mom would point to the lights she wanted up that year. I asked what colour decorations she wanted. Pointing to the one's she wanted up.
I made sure,while decorated, that mom was completely involved in the process. What she wanted and didn't want.
The staff were always surprised by the fact that mom was making the decisions. That she was taking an active part in the decoration process. Not just sitting and watching. But being involved.
When putting things up, I was always asking mom where she wanted things.... This side of the wall, over the bed, on the dresser, on the closet. Hanging on the door. etc........Always had mom making decisions.
Each time I brought more decorations, this was a month long process of bring decorations out to White Rock, I just couldn't bring everything at once, mom was the one I went to for how to decorate her room. There were, and still are, boxes and boxes of decorations. Plus whatever I would be stopping and getting on my way.
Every time I would bring more decorations out, I would ask her if she wanted to listen to Christmas music. And the answer was always yes. You see mom could make decisions on her own. One would only have to ask Mary and she would tell you. So she couldn't speak what she wanted. Mary, mom could still tell you and let you know.
I made a Christmas SD card full of wonderful, jazzy Christmas music. Not the typical Christmas music. But beautiful and soulful, soft magical sounds.
Oh we had so much fun decorating her room. A two month process, A little each day and her room started to come alive with the beauty and magic of Christmas. Fake snow around her window and as many other places I could put it.
Mom shared her room. There were no single rooms. OK there were 4 single rooms and a huge waiting list. So mom had to share. Now I would always ask the daughter of the other person living in my mother's room, if I could decorate some of there side. Around the windows etc... Just so the room, the whole room, looked nice.So the other resident would and could feel like she was included in the holiday magic. The daughter always agreed. So mom and I set forth to complete the room.
Decorations hanging from the ceiling, all over the walls, around the windows, on the windows. A wonderful little Christmas theme on the windowsill that would flow with the rest of the decorations around the room. Decorations above mom's bed, around her bed.
I have many stuffed Christmas characters to place around the room.On moms shelves. I have reindeer, a large stuffed Santa Claus, I have elf's of different sizes. Snowman, Smaller Santa characters that I place on the windowsill. Pictures of different Christmas themes. Bells and holly Holly for around the edge of the back wall, behind her bed. A wreath for her door. The list goes on and on.
Mom and I would sing Christmas carols while we did all of this.And mom would sing. Sing like she use to sing. Of course the words would not always come out, but mom still sang. The staff were always coming down to see what was next, going up. Waiting for the las item, to go up. The Christmas tree.
The Christmas tree was always the last thing we put up. Mom was helping me put up the lights. You see I made sure the tree was at the height of her wheelchair, so mom could hand me the lights as they go up, To be involved with everything. We always put up different colour lights each year,different ornaments to go with the lights. Sometimes blue and white ornaments. Sometimes Silver and Gold Sometimes Red and White. Or a combination of them all. It all depended on the lights we were using. Mom was the one who choose the light theme each year. With her help we did this.
But that little tree would shine with Christmas magic. Her room would glow with the excitement of the season. Everyone would come by to see the magic. They looked and always left with a huge smile on their face. A glow of the wonder, that is the Christmas spirit. Mom would see it and I would see mom looking at their faces and just smile. A big smile of happiness. That mom was able to see the faces of those who stopped by. It wasn't just the staff who came by, Residents and their families would come by. People from other flours stopped in to experience the magic that was emanating from her room. It was a glorious experience for mom.
The Christmas Magic that made mom so very happy.
GOD bless and goodnight
Kristopher Schmuland
https://www.gofunfme.com/krisschmuland To help give my mother a wonderful send off. A memorial service fitting for a beautiful mother.
