It's Christmas Eve... the stockings are hung, the gifts are wrapped, the zucchini bread is thawing, the scrapbooks are scrapped, all is waiting in anticipation for the Big Guy to arrive and I am fighting myself not too ask THE QUESTION... I ask it every year and every year it throws my relaxing "everything is finished" Christmas Eve into a tizzy! Every year I remind myself not to ask The Question...
Every year, like an idiot I ask each child... "If you could only have ONE thing for Christmas, what would it be?"
I think I do it in an effort to reassure myself that I've done all the right shopping, I've purchased the right gifts and no one is going to be unhappy on Christmas morning... Maybe I'm falsely confident, it could be I'm just a moron, but each year without fail... I ask. And each and EVERY year... the one gift they want is NOT under the tree!
Generally, it's a gift that I've never heard mentioned until this very moment, it wasn't on their multiplely updated lists, it wasn't mentioned in passing, it never appeared on FaceBook... it in fact I believe was pulled out of their asses just to mess with me. For instance there was the year that Zack wanted a Silver Sleigh Bell from Santa's Sleigh (Polar Express year). It was also the year that only Gold Bells were produced and even so, do you know how many gold or silver bells are left ANYWHERE on Christmas Eve of the year that The Polar Express came out? Or the year Brenna was 10 and wanted Barbie Butterfly Princess or Barbie some sort of money sucking Princess. The child hadn't played with barbies in years, but suddenly.... Barbie Butterfly fucking Princess was ALL she wanted??? The ONLY present she wanted??? Really???
Or the year that Zack was 5 and he wanted a TIE! Are you kidding me... a 5 year old and he wants a TIE!! Who did he think he was Georgio fricking Armani?? Again ties for 5 year olds not the easiest things to find, let alone on Christmas Eve...
Most years, but not all, after hours of searching, miles of driving - I often was able to find these MOST COVETED gifts... but not always. Did it ruin anyone's Christmas...NO... Did it make my Christmas Eve nightmarish and stressful... yes....
So here I sit... the kids are still sleeping and I'm fighting with myself... To Ask or Not to Ask....
Don't ask -- for the love of all that is holy, don't ask!! My kids don't realize I'm (normally, not so much this year) type-a control freak who is done with her shopping by Dec 1. So when they break out the wish lists, it's too late anyway. Luckily, (or perhaps just indicative of the fact he's spoiled rotten?) Kellen's list had (no lie) 342 things on it. Like, six note book pages front and back. Everything from "piece of gum" to "Hummer Limo" At least with those odds, chances are good I've got SOMETHING that matches under the tree already!!
ReplyDeleteHope you guys have a merry Christmas. Your letter and pic arrived today .... I just mailed mine yesterday, but better late than never. :)