Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Peter's Christmas List
Peter came home from school one day a few weeks ago with a letter to Santa. His class spent a surprising amount of time focusing on the Jolly Head Elf. In fact, Peter has been all about Santa this Christmas.
And that makes me sad.
Several months ago he brought up Christmas.
Peter: Mom, you know how Santa is just a game?
Me: Yes.
Peter: Well, I want to play the game.
That's straightforward, don't you think? He wants to play the Santa game. I smiled at him when he told me and said as long as we remember it's a game, then we can play.
I'm not sure he remembers.
I know his classmates have talked about Santa and what they're getting. When I went to Peter's class Christmas party most of the kids told me what they had asked for. Thanks to the list he brought home from school, I know what Peter wants too.
Can't read the list? Peter has decided he prefers artistically arranging the letters rather than legibly printing them. I'll translate. He wants:
I've struggled with the Santa game the past few days. Since we agreed to play, we have a present for each child from Santa. I've wrapped them in paper that I haven't used on anything else. They're hidden in a box in the office, waiting for Christmas Eve. And I feel sick about it. Peter might know, deep down, that we're pretending, but Cooper and Phoebe don't.
How can I teach my children that Christmas can be magical without Santa Claus? How can I play along without feeling like I'm lying to them? We play pretend all the time. Seriously, the majority of our time is spent jumping and running as animals or speeding down the track in a train or flying around the house as superheros. Why is this so different for me?
And that makes me sad.
Several months ago he brought up Christmas.
Peter: Mom, you know how Santa is just a game?
Me: Yes.
Peter: Well, I want to play the game.
That's straightforward, don't you think? He wants to play the Santa game. I smiled at him when he told me and said as long as we remember it's a game, then we can play.
I'm not sure he remembers.
I know his classmates have talked about Santa and what they're getting. When I went to Peter's class Christmas party most of the kids told me what they had asked for. Thanks to the list he brought home from school, I know what Peter wants too.
Can't read the list? Peter has decided he prefers artistically arranging the letters rather than legibly printing them. I'll translate. He wants:
- Hot Wheels tracks
- roller skates
- an iPad
- another Hot Wheels set
- a nicer little brother
- art supplies
I've struggled with the Santa game the past few days. Since we agreed to play, we have a present for each child from Santa. I've wrapped them in paper that I haven't used on anything else. They're hidden in a box in the office, waiting for Christmas Eve. And I feel sick about it. Peter might know, deep down, that we're pretending, but Cooper and Phoebe don't.
How can I teach my children that Christmas can be magical without Santa Claus? How can I play along without feeling like I'm lying to them? We play pretend all the time. Seriously, the majority of our time is spent jumping and running as animals or speeding down the track in a train or flying around the house as superheros. Why is this so different for me?
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The Ghost of Christmas Presents
Did you know that Christmas is in four days? Really, it's only four days away. And since today is almost over we might as well say that Christmas is in three days. I shouldn't be so surprised, I've had a Christmas tree decorated and in my living room for almost a whole month. And yet, I'm still a little shocked that Christmas is this week.
I love wrapping presents and seeing them under the tree. But no wrapping has happened yet this year due to a sweet little girl who is fascinated by the crinkle of that pretty red and green paper. The UPS Santa Claus brought a package from Bryan's family yesterday. I took a chance and had Cooper put all the presents under the tree as I pulled them out of their boxes. Today Phoebe pulled several of them out, hugged them close, and cried out, "ME!" It was adorable, but I finally had to take the gifts away so they could stay wrapped until Christmas.
Inspired by the sight of the packages under the tree, I've decided it's time to wrap. Most of my time during the next few days will probably be spent keeping small hands away from presents, but that's okay. Maybe then the fast approaching Christmas will seem real.
And that brings me to this moment. Here I sit, on my red couch, staring down several Amazon boxes, ready to remember what exactly we've decided to surprise our children with on Sunday morning. Perhaps I should have started this process before 9:45 at night...
I love wrapping presents and seeing them under the tree. But no wrapping has happened yet this year due to a sweet little girl who is fascinated by the crinkle of that pretty red and green paper. The UPS Santa Claus brought a package from Bryan's family yesterday. I took a chance and had Cooper put all the presents under the tree as I pulled them out of their boxes. Today Phoebe pulled several of them out, hugged them close, and cried out, "ME!" It was adorable, but I finally had to take the gifts away so they could stay wrapped until Christmas.
Inspired by the sight of the packages under the tree, I've decided it's time to wrap. Most of my time during the next few days will probably be spent keeping small hands away from presents, but that's okay. Maybe then the fast approaching Christmas will seem real.
And that brings me to this moment. Here I sit, on my red couch, staring down several Amazon boxes, ready to remember what exactly we've decided to surprise our children with on Sunday morning. Perhaps I should have started this process before 9:45 at night...
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Mama's Girl
Phoebe has been waking up in the middle of the night for the last month or so. We're not sure what's causing her to wake, but she's pretty consistent about it. There have been a handful of nights that she's slept through, but sleeping has been the exception and not the rule.
She woke up tonight just as I was folding the last of the laundry. Her cry had moved from, "I woke up and I'm grumpy and disoriented" to "COME IN NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW." When she reaches that second level of intensity, she's not going back to sleep.
I picked her up, got her a drink of water, and snuggled with her for thirty minutes. When she was asleep I put her back into her bed. And she was awake again. I figured I'd done my part to help her get back to sleep. Now it was her turn.
Bryan heard her cries and, like a good dad, went to rescue his baby girl. He came out holding her and reported that she was thirsty. I bid them both a good night and said that I would come in once I was done writing this post.
As soon as Bryan turned to go back into the bedroom, Phoebe let out a heart-wrenching wail. Bryan comforted her as best he could. "I know. I know Phoebe. You love Mommy, don't you?" Phoebe nodded as she continued to sob.
In spite of the tears it generates, it's nice to be someone's favorite.
She woke up tonight just as I was folding the last of the laundry. Her cry had moved from, "I woke up and I'm grumpy and disoriented" to "COME IN NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW." When she reaches that second level of intensity, she's not going back to sleep.
I picked her up, got her a drink of water, and snuggled with her for thirty minutes. When she was asleep I put her back into her bed. And she was awake again. I figured I'd done my part to help her get back to sleep. Now it was her turn.
Bryan heard her cries and, like a good dad, went to rescue his baby girl. He came out holding her and reported that she was thirsty. I bid them both a good night and said that I would come in once I was done writing this post.
As soon as Bryan turned to go back into the bedroom, Phoebe let out a heart-wrenching wail. Bryan comforted her as best he could. "I know. I know Phoebe. You love Mommy, don't you?" Phoebe nodded as she continued to sob.
In spite of the tears it generates, it's nice to be someone's favorite.
Monday, December 19, 2011
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