On a snowy November day, Lana Cullis from Powell River, B.C., and her daughter Kit were dividing tree ornaments between themselves. Kit, now living independently, wanted to decorate her own Christmas tree. Unpacking the decorations stirred up years of memories and emotions for Lana, reflecting on the foster children who had once been part of their family.
Over eight years, Lana and her family had fostered 23 children, with some staying temporarily and others becoming part of the family through adoption. Sorting through the ornaments, Lana was surprised by Kit’s recollection of the stories behind each handmade ornament, even those made by people she had never met. It became evident that Kit’s holiday memories differed from Lana’s in many ways.
As Lana uncovered a tree topper received during her first Christmas with her husband, she reminisced about the cracks and repairs it had endured over the years, mirroring the challenges in their marriage. Passing the angel to Kit, Lana was touched to see her daughter’s excitement at continuing the tradition of placing it atop the tree.
Opening another box revealed a Santa sleigh and reindeer ornament crafted by an eight-year-old foster child at a Christmas party years ago. Lana felt a mix of emotions, recalling the court battle over the child’s custody and the subsequent separation. Kit, sensing her mother’s emotions, took the ornament, reminiscing about how it was always placed at the bottom of the tree for play.
Reflecting on their family traditions of inclusivity for foster children during the holidays, Lana shared how they adjusted their Christmas celebrations to accommodate the children’s family time. They established a tradition of giving each child a unique ornament as a keepsake, allowing them to decide whether to leave it with the family or take it when they moved on.
Among the decorations was a reindeer ornament made of pompoms, embodying the whimsical memories shared with her children. Lana recalled a past division of ornaments with her ex-husband, ensuring fairness and equity even in the smallest details.
As they decorated the tree together, Kit’s perspective and appreciation for the ornaments brought a new light to Lana’s experience. Looking forward to seeing Kit’s tree decorated with their shared memories, Lana anticipated a different and more joyful decorating experience this year.