Keeping it Real

WRITTEN BY BLAIR FJESETH

Happy New Year to all you Montana parents, especially those waiting to welcome a baby for the first time in the coming year.

This annual column has always been my favorite column to write. I enjoy researching the attributes of each lunar year and their associated animal. Five years back, I wrote about the Year of the Dog, not knowing I would also have a child that year. This year is enjoyable because I, too, was born under this zodiac sign.

Lunar New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is one of the most important holidays in many parts of the world and has quickly gained popularity in the United States. It’s a great way to celebrate other cultures and gain insight into the attributes of each year’s animal.

Lunar New Year falls on February 10, 2024, beginning the Year of the . . . DRUMROLL PLEASE . . . Dragon—the Wood Dragon to be precise! Showing my age here, as I wrote this column I kept thinking of the little red dragon from the original Mulan. He was truly the best character in the entire movie, but I digress.

As you prepare to welcome your little one into the world in the auspicious Year of the Dragon, you are embarking on a journey filled with wonder, love and endless joy.

The Dragon is a symbol of strength, power and good fortune in many cultures, and it holds a special significance in the Chinese zodiac—a harbinger of success and greatness.

Are you wondering what potential traits your Dragon will have? Dragons are typically known for their charisma, intelligence and determination. Encourage these qualities in your child as they grow and, like with all mini-Montanans, nurture their curiosity, support their thirst for knowledge and instill the value of persistence in them.

Speaking of Montana, Dragons are known to be exceptionally adventurous, which bodes well for anyone living in this incredible state.

They are confident creatures, just look at the famous Dragons I’ve listed below!

Eager to start nesting? Be sure to welcome your lucky Dragon in his or her lucky colors: gold, silver and grayishwhite. The lucky numbers are 1, 6 and 7.

And if  I still need to sell you on the lunar calendar idea, maybe your child will take after other famous Dragons, including  John Lennon, Martin Luther King Jr., Shirley Temple, Stephen Curry, Reese Witherspoon, Maya Angelou or Adele. Or, like all children, they may come flying into our lives like snowflakes, absolutely one of a kind and all their own.

I wish I could tell you that parenting is as simple as Googling predetermined traits, but that’s what the adventure is all about: Discovering what this new, completely unique human will be and do. It’s tiring, exciting and unpredictable, but it’s the most incredible adventure you will ever go on, —and, after all, isn’t that what legends are truly made of?

Blair Fjeseth is a working professional and proud Montana mom. You can reach her at blairparker.inc@gmail.com. Follow her Instagram @blair_mt for more adventures.