Growing up, Susan’s family exchanged presents on Christmas Eve. In my household, that was the ultimate sin. As a result we’ve ended up with this conglomeration of a holiday ritual. It starts on Christmas Eve when both of our families get together to eat, exchange gifts, and eat some more. The key here is that only gifts are exchanged with Susan’s side of the family; we give them our gifts and open theirs from them. For three hours we open gifts and let the kids eat cookies, chocolate, and candy before telling them, “Now hurry up and go to sleep.” Yeah, right. From my laptop I can hear Morgan in her room, singing to herself. Mason has vowed to stay awake “until Santa comes.”
Yeah. About that. Mason’s been asking “questions” this week. “If Santa’s real, how does he do all that stuff?” I know he is on the cusp of figuring it all out. I’m just trying to get one more Christmas out of him. Just let him suspend belief for one more day. He’s got the rest of his life not to believe in magic anymore — please, just let him make it 24 more hours.
So now, the waiting game is on. I’m hoping the kids conk out soon; Santa’s got a bike to put together.
I remember in first grade you started questioning. My comment; maybe he’s not real, but if he is and you don’t believe in him you might not get any presents. You decided just for that one more year that you believed! The next year we had a talk about the facts of life and the spirit of Christmas. That was soon enough!
And it’s hard to blend two traditions. But we love being included in the gathering and the eating, and then we go to the cooking and the wrapping to continue with the festivities the next day. Somehow it works. I guess because it’s a night filled with love.
Merry Christmas. Mom
What are you trying to say? Santa ain’t real or something?