Christmas

So. Our Christmas was really nice. Christmas Eve was enjoyable, Mass, home for pre prepared dinner (baked spaghetti, not tradional but good and could be eaten with wine!~Even the Oldest had some sparkling grape juice in a wine glass...I'm sure he felt fancy!), Daddy and Oldest made cookies for Santa while I got the Littlest down and it was all just nice. After both boys were down, we got things straight (ahem, S's little H's) and then we opened our gifts to each other like we always do in our own space, at our own pace, with our music playing in the background (well, this year it was just soft Christmas music but usually it's our favorite songs). I could feel the 'busyness' of the day draining all my energy away and although we were having a very nice time together, soon it was time for bed and we crashed.

The next morning it was the normal scene but this year I can tell a difference. I can tell he's really growing up. I guess it's a perpetual thing in motion, growing up, but still, sometimes it glares at your harder than others. I'm so proud of him, he always remembers Lucas in everything he does. He actively gets on the floor and plays with the Littlest, chases him all over the place, has lots of fun. He really is a super big brother. He knows the reason we are all celebrating is not just to get presents, he actually will tell you that if asked. I asked him if he'd be upset if Santa did not come to our house, you know, if he forgot, he said, 'no, it'd be ok'. I'm not sure I believe him but I was impressed with his answer.

This time of year always gives me pause. Everyone has their own degrees of what they have, what they want, how they get it, what they value etc etc. I totally get that. No one person or family is the same in how they view things or practice and cherish things. Get that. I suppose it gives me pause for a couple different reasons; one just for the time of year it is, how it makes so so emotional and mushy (well held inside mind you), and the other for comparison reasons. I know I shouldn't. And it's only brought about by observations, and how people talk about Christmas...but I can't help but notice there really are some huge variations out there. You know what? I'm going to not say anything else before I get myself in trouble. I will say this. The more you give a child they less they value those things. The more you give them, the less they appreciate. If you give them hoards and hoards for Christmas, have it all lined up for each relative to get this this and that so the child has all the things YOU think they should have (which they really don't truly care about anyway), the child will not only become overwhelmed and likely not play with any one thing too long because they can't decide what to value, what to play with, but they will just WANT more because they're going to be bored easily. I think it's a little known fact that the less you give a child, on purpose, the more they appreciate and truly play with those things. A lot, over and over, and get true enjoyment from them. And not get bored. It's true. It really works. I do it all the time. :)

I'm not saying we didn't get things for the boys. We did. It was very well controlled and I can honestly say I made a genuine effort to buy only certain things and that was that. There were certain things I had in mind and that was it. I think the Littlest got five things. That's it. Maybe for some that is a lot. Maybe for others that is a percentage of what their child got. It's whatever your degree is. The Oldest got a bit more but just a bit.

I don't know. I'm not complaining; just observing. And as adults, well, it's just not about us. I firmly believe that. Sure it's nice and it is nice to get gifts. Absolutely. Who wouldn't like that? But wow. It's so not about us. And really, it's not even about the kids. It's about the celebration of the birth of baby Jesus so long ago. So given we have the traditions we do and Santa and Christmas has come to be what it is, I take it all with a grain of salt. I like to give. Give give give, that's me. When I see someone other than that, I guess it gets under my skin. And with the loads of toys dropped on a child and that is supposed to mean what? I don't know.

Christmas was wonderful around here. Not to be all martyresque but it was because we were all together and that's really why. But my glasses have a different color in them, remember. They are hued with a bit of jade.

J