'Tis the season, eh? Normally around this time of year I’m thinking of hot chocolate, christmas trees, shorter days, and warm clothes. When I asked Kaliana what she was expecting Christmas to be like she said, “snow.” All of these things can be true, of course, depending on where you live.

For us this year we are in Cape Town, South Africa and it’s summer.

Have you ever experienced a holiday season on the southern side of the globe? It’s funny because there is still Santa Claus and christmas trees (kinda) but it’s hot!

Why I find this important to talk about now is perspective.

How easy is it to get locked into a certain way of thinking, or even believing, because that’s all we have ever known or experienced? But that doesn’t mean it is the same for everyone else. The simple revelation that others celebrate Christmas during their summer months can help us to remember that not everyone sees the world the way we do.

As a mama I also find this incredibly valuable to share with Kaliana. I want her to be exposed to many different ways of life and thinking so that she can begin to develop her own sense of the world and hopefully not judging what’s right and wrong - rather just embracing what is.

It’s not always the easiest of things to accept other people’s values and culture but a good start may be to flip things upside down and see what it’s like on the other side.

So Happy Holidays from Cape Town!

Sending you love and trusting that this holiday will be bright and full of joy - no matter where or how it comes.

Xo,

Rachel