Christmas is just one day away, and it's such a special day for our little ones!

By the time you read this post, it will inevitably be just over 24 hours before Santa arrives in the homes of millions of children around the world. And not to mention if you're a dad or a mum.... This day, Christmas, is the favourite day of all our little ones. The illusion, the magic, the innocence; these are some of the reactions that most move us, the adults, who witness what happens as the most beautiful day of the year arrives at our homes.

Personally, I had forgotten what it felt like to be close to Christmas morning. It was my daughter, who with her excitement and her beautiful way of seeing the world, who inspired me to do this post. ‘Mommy, today (Sunday. Yesterday, for you, my reader friends) is December 23rd. Christmas is only one day away. What a thrill,’ were the words she said to me. Without any connection, while we were waiting for the taxi that was not going to pick us up to take us to the Mall near home. I have always said that children have a kind of sixth sense that is closely related to these dates.

My daughter has been at all times aware of what Christmas really means. And to my own amazement, her excitement is not particularly motivated by the presents Santa is going to bring her or the contents of her letter under the Christmas tree, no. Rather, in her mind, this month is the ideal time to be closer, eat more delicious food and, of course, play more with her cousins and mummy. Rather, because in her mind, this month is the ideal time to be closer, eat more delicious food and, of course, play more with her cousins and mum. In fact, it is not an exaggeration when I tell you that in his letter to Father Christmas, he wrote the following: ‘I want a doll, the one you can for me. You choose and nothing else’.

9 years old, 9 years old, my little girl! Sometimes I can't believe it.... I can't believe where time has gone so far. Without going too far back, exactly one year ago, I uploaded a post on HIVE, describing a very different little girl to the one she is today. She was 8 at the time, but her perception of days and the meaning of special dates was totally different to what it is today. By 10 o'clock at night she was fast asleep, and it was a very unlively day for her, in general. This year, she has been by my side, she has insisted on home decorations and how we should decorate and above all her ability to recognise the Christmas spirit is what has changed everything.

I guess what I really want to say, dear mums and dads, is that the most valuable and important true gift is to be able to accompany them in all their stages. From the purest innocence of the early childhood stages, to pre-adolescence (in my case, particularly) although I am also very aware of how briefly and even too hastily time plays with us. For all these reasons, I am grateful to be able to be by her side and see how my princess grows, how her attention and intelligence evolve, and how Christmas (the arrival of Christmas) gives us the perfect excuse to continue building fantastic memories. I think it is something we all, in this community, share and will experience in just over 24 hours. Merry Christmas to all, from the bottom of our hearts! Only one day left to celebrate the most important day for our children, Christmas.

All photographs and content used in this post are my own. Therefore, they have been used under my permission and are my property.