Snuggle Parties

Thank you to Alissa Olson, a kindergarten teacher at St. Columbkille School, for introducing my family to the “snuggle party.”

Last fall her class – which included my son, David – earned a party, so she asked what kind of party they should have. They decided to watch a movie and bring a favorite pillow or stuffed animal to snuggle with. And the teacher, or someone in the class, coined the celebration a snuggle party.

David excitedly told me about the party, and we determined we could have one of our own. Other family members found our two-person party, though, and wanted to join in. And ever since, snuggles parties have become a regular family tradition.

We typically have them after a long day, when we need to unwind and relax. We hold them in the basement of our house, where my husband and I have our bedroom. It’s dark, cool and relaxing there.

Four, five or six of us will squeeze onto a queen-size bed. Usually there’s some fighting as we get adjusted, each person trying to grab a spot to lie down for the movie on DVD or via Internet. Even the dog joins us, because she loves to snuggle as much as anyone. And usually she’s the worst offender of taking more than her fair share of space.

Sometimes even our older kids will stop down for a while. They might have to grab some laundry in the basement or have something to tell me. But they’ll linger for a few minutes to watch a few scenes and grab some of our snacks.

Snuggle parties are my kind of parties: low on preparation, effort and energy, but high on quality time close to loved ones. They’re a break from a day full of activity, a way for us to relax together, tightly squeezed onto a bed with favorite pillows, blankets and maybe a stuffed animal. (There isn’t much room left for toys.)

I’ve been thinking about the notion of snuggle parties during the afterglow of Pentecost. Just as our minds and bodies need peace, solace and relaxation, so do our souls.

And the Holy Spirit seems to be just what we need, the chicken soup (or snuggle party) for our souls.

At Masses on Pentecost we sang or recited the sequence “Veni, Sancte Spiritus,” including these lines:

“You, of comforters the best;

You, the soul’s most welcome guest;

Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labor, rest most sweet;

Grateful coolness in the heat;

Solace in the midst of woe . . .”

That certainly describes what my soul needs.

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.