What do you want for Christmas? Have you thought about it? In a moment of pure exasperation yesterday, I said (very calmly and quietly) to my children,"Do you know what I want for Christmas?" No answer. "I want my children to obey." Annabelle smiled a great big smile and shouted, "WHAT? Mommy, that is just a dream!"
Oh, Annabelle, you make me laugh.
To eat the candy or decorate with it, that is the question.
Can you believe we did this? (I guess I should add...about ten minutes later, the house fell apart. The kids were content with telling everyone a hurricane came through.
Christmastime is here. We're enjoying the music, the movies, the shows, the cookie baking, the special activities, the parties, making gingerbread houses, acting out the Christmas story with our Little People Nativity set, etc... Annabelle and Jacob are enjoying adding new things to their wish lists each day. With Annabelle, it's a mental list. Anytime she sees something in a catalog or in a store or thinks of something she wants, she says, "Mommy, I want that. Will you add that to my Chwistmas list?" Yeah, sure...along with the hundreds of other things you've told me about. I simply point to my head, and say, "I've got it." :) That's good enough for her. The thing she most often asks for is bubble gum. Easy enough, right? But, when I ask her what she wants for Christmas, she won't tell me. Instead, she whispers in my ear, "You'll find out when I go see Santa." I sure hope I can be a part of this conversation. :) For Jacob, this list making stuff is serious. He even wrote his letter to Santa, addressed it and put a stamp on it all by himself. Luckily, I caught him just before he sealed the envelope, so I was able to read what he wrote. He asked for three or four different LEGO sets, including the Death Star (Star Wars). Oh my. He also had one set listed that is supposedly for ages 16+ because of the difficulty level. When I asked about that one, he said, "Well, Mommy, you told me that I am very intelligent, so I'm pretty sure I could do it." Funny thing is, he's probably right.
...these are a few of my favorite things...
As the kids make their lists and see bits and pieces of toy commercials (I try my best to fast forward through them as we watch recorded Christmas specials) I find it more and more difficult to express to them that this is not what Christmas is all about. They know the true meaning of Christmas. They know this month we are celebrating advent and Jacob can even tell you what advent means. They look forward to our Jesse Tree readings each evening and have fun placing the corresponding ornaments on the tree. In a world primarily focused on gifts and Santa Claus, I realize it is my responsibility to share with my children that without Christ, there is no Christmas. Each school morning, I let them choose a song to listen (and dance) to which gets our day started. What? Don't you start your day with music and dancing? Their two songs of choice lately have been these:
I love these songs because they reiterate the message I am so desperately trying to get through to my kids. They love these songs because they can sing along and dance to them. Their favorite line is "I went to the coffee shop to get myself a mocha." In any case, they are are hearing the true meaning of Christmas and that's what matters.
