{I was planning to write a brand-new Christmas post today but I couldn’t think of anything to say. And then I decided to re-read this post, which I wrote a year and a day ago. It still sums up my feelings about the season. Watching the proverbial sugarplums dancing in my daughter’s head still makes my heart sing. The year has been hard and there is a part of my family that is missing but the little girl who remains is purely delightful. Happy Holidays!}
The Christmas season is upon us. And when I say “upon” I mean sitting on top of us and kicking us in the face with its big, sooty Santa boots. For the past 10 years or so, Christmas has seemed like something to get through. The magic of my youth, when I would wait for the Sears catalog to arrive and then circle, dog-ear and then highlight (just to be extra sure) the 978 toys that I wanted, faded long ago. The enjoyment of the lights and songs and spirit of the season gave way to feeling taxed and maxed out, not just mentally and physically but also from the perspective of the kind people at Mastercard. How many Christmas cookies can one person eat (a lot) and how many pairs of Dearfoam slippers does one person need (none, thanks)? In short, I started to be the Grinchy person who was dimming the lights and hiding in the bathroom when I saw the carolers coming.
All of that has changed this year. My usual black on black on black clothing ensembles have been accented by a red scarf and red Pumas, and eggnog lattes are on my mind just about 24/7. Why the change of heart? It is all the fault of a certain blonde-haired maniac in a Pull-Up and footie pajamas. My daughter is 3 1/2 this year and the spirit of the season is in her eyes, in her silly Christmas dances and on her tongue as she talks to Santa in her sleep.
Because I’m so progressive insane I feel a little bit strange about lying to my child about Santa (although I have no issue whatsoever telling her that I’m eating raisins when she catches me eating candy). It’s hard to imagine the crestfallen face that I will have to endure when she finds out the truth. Nonetheless, we did the big trek out to sit on the Man in Red’s lap and let me tell you, she was elated! She was practically bouncing off the ceiling for days, telling and retelling every detail, every moment of their time together. I never expected such a truly, genuinely giddy response. And then last week we were lying in bed, reading bedtime stories. She had chosen Babar’s Rescue from the library. It is a tale of a camping trip gone awry. Babar is kidnapped by a pack of stripe-eared elephants and his daughter must save him. After the story I asked my daughter if she would like to rescue her daddy. She replied, “Yes! But I don’t know how to get there!!” She looked absolutely terrified and it was clear that she thought her daddy had been captured by the stripe-eared elephants and was being fed poisoned Watermelon Smoothies with Babar. After calming her down I realized something: Christmas is made for 3-year-olds. It’s not for 34-year-old curmudgeons like me. The imagination and the promise of hope and miracles are so alive in a preschooler. How could I deprive her of the full Christmas experience? In other words, my little Grinch heart grew three sizes that day.
So pass me an eggnog latte and hack off a slice of that Yule Log. I have lights to hang. I have cookies to bake. I have a 3-foot tall stocking to fill.
As for Santa laughing at her when she nervously told him that she wanted “a toy” for Christmas? I’ll deal with him on December 26th.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this. i am with you all the way. and you are an excellent, warm amazing mama. and writer.
Love YOU to pieces, beautiful woman! Thank you… 🙂
and there, there, right there is the magic.
For sure. It takes the innocent ones to remind us. It also helps to stay far, far away from shopping malls…
I wish I could be there to pass you that eggnog latte! So happy to hear you have rediscovered some joy in the holiday. 🙂
I wish you could too, Jaymie! I prefer a soy-eggnog mix… 😉
I am a huge fan of the soy!!
Have you had the half nog/half soy mix? Delightful!
Beautiful. Thank you. 🙂
Thanks, Saron! I’m still having the occasional Grinchy moment here and there. The cookies are helping… 🙂
Melting my black-as-coal heart; maybe a little.
It’s not really black. More like charcoal gray. Wait… 😉
First, the black on black is my fav so you are a woman after my own heart.
Second, telling lies about candy! LOL LOL Too funny!
Lastly, Grinch is one of my all time favs along with “The Sound of Music”
I’m very old fashioned.
Found you on SITS tonight.
Where’s your follower widget?
I also tell her I’m eating crackers when I’m really eating cookies. This is why I NEED to wear the black on black… 🙂
How do I get a follower widget? I’m new to this!
How blessed you are to have a happy little girl who you can share in the excitment of Christmas with. Mine’s 6 months… yeah we’re not quite there yet. Haha.
Enjoy your last Christmas of hanging ornaments on the bottom half of the tree. Those days are numbered… 😉 Have a great Christmas with your sweet, little one!
This is a wonderful post 🙂
I hope your daughter’s Christmas is everything she hopes for.
Thank you for voting for my little man!
Thank you! And you’re so welcome. Your little guy is adorable!
What a beautiful post! My hubby and I have been more or less alone for the last 6 Christmases, as we live in a different Hemisphere to the rest of our family (the odd one or two people joining our Christmas table some years) but we’ve not had any children around. This year our daughter is only 3 months, but we’re both so excited already for next year! Love your post. You’ve made me excited already.
oh, meant to say – stopping by from SITS!
Oh this is a lovely post! You’re right, Christmas and Santa Claus are for children and Christmas memories are for the parents and adults! Over from SITS to say hello!
My boys have changed my perspective on the holidays as well.
Stopping in from SITS.
I love this. so true. Christmas is for them, not us. the candy cane cocktails are for us; they get santa. fair trade, I say 😉
Happy New Year, M!
I have pip sqeeks that give me the best excuse to keep the Christmas Spirit burnin’!
(but it’s ok—you can still get all giddy and jolly—it really isn’t *just* for three year olds ya know!)
Wonderful wonderful magical post 🙂
I am with you on this one totally. I have hated Christmas since I was a teen but this year my kids were 2 and 3 and I could not help but get into it. My sister in law won’t let her 5 year old believe in Santa because she doesn’t want her to question Jesus (I know, WTH) but I agree with you about letting them have some magic and hope. Until I saw Christmas through my little people’s eyes I did not appreciate the real meaning of Santa and the holidays (I know it’s religious but since I am not religious that part of the holiday does not impress me). Very good post, sorry I read it so late.