'A different kind of magic': how a little bit of magic can ease loved one's passing

Mum-of-six Constance Hall, has a rather untraditional family. The family don't have Santa Claus, abide by the usual holidays or even follow "a particular football team." 

But Hall brings the magic in a different way, the magic of imagination. 

"Usually however I am full of magic, I got it from my dad, his entire life was make believe heaven. Every night Billie-Violet went to sleep with a story about the pet Lion that she rode, just in time to go to sleep so that her fairies could dance on her eyelashes." 

She says that as a mum, magic was her thing: 

"I capitalise on these little imaginations with everything. Hundreds and thousands were constantly placed under flowers as fairy poo and we didn't eat in our bed because mice would come for the crumbs and always dreadlock our hair on their way out." 

But, one day she found it difficult to create the magic anymore. Her father passed away, and she had to explain the death to her daughter, who was still only a toddler: 

"She was with me, she saw my sorrow and her little heart broke. Months went by, I missed him so much. I still do." 

But grief, has it's own way to turn into magic:

"Billie- Violet however used to see him everywhere, in birds, butterflies or the brightest star in the sky and once he even spoke to her while she was on the trampoline." 

So now, instead of Santa Claus, they have Poppy Clause: 

"And then Christmas came around, all about family and spoiling children. It only seemed right to tell the kids that my dad is the one who squeezes down the chimney and leaves all the presents.

And they were so excited… every year, the most exciting part of Christmas is all about my dad." 

Christmas will always be a difficult time if you are dealing with the passing of a loved one. But children are the ones that can see the magic in everything:

"If you have lost someone this Christmas please trust me, I believe they are still here and one day the sorrow does pass, leaving room for the happiness to come back in.

And if you ever can't find the magic, just look at your children." 

This Christmas, why don't you look for a little bit of magic?