I was that “Bah Humbug” girl just a few years ago. Sure, I loved the holiday season when I was a kid, but somewhere between the teenage and early adult years I started to lose that excitement. The holidays became a time that I couldn’t wait to pass so the summer would return and I can get to working on my tan.
What changed? I guess maturity and my expanding family changed things up for me. I have a toddler that is amazed by the world around her and I am living vicariously through her for as long as she will let me. I know that the holiday season shouldn’t be only about Santa and what he will bring, but to a two year old that can lack discipline at the most inconvenient times, the fear of the man in red not bringing you everything you see on Nickelodeon during commercial breaks can be devastating. So far, it’s working. She will learn the true meaning of Christmas within the next few years, but for the time being, I will rejoice in her naivety just a little longer.
I’m already asking my hubby to put up the Christmas tree. Something I didn’t really look forward to each year – putting it up meant it had to eventually come down – oh, and when we would get a real tree I couldn’t stand being in my living room. I would sit on the couch and cough and sneeze the entire time. Try living like that for 2 months during an off peak allergy season. This was not fun.
So, we got a fake tree – pre-lit of course. I don’t care who you are and how much you love the holiday season – NO ONE likes to string up lights. They never come out right. Oh, and all that smack I said about a pre-lit Christmas tree and how “all it takes is ONE light to eff up an entire row” yeah.. I don’t take that back. Have you ever tried searching for that one burned out light in a 1000 light tree when you have an entire row of lights out? Let’s not forget about the shatterproof ornaments that break into a million pieces as your toddler drops it on the floor, and then decides to patch it up again, landing you in the bathroom with a set of tweezers to pull out every last bit of “unbreakable” pieces from her fingers. Just 3 more weeks until I get to put up my Christmas tree- oh joy!
I guess what I love most about the most recent years during the holidays is that despite the constant negativity surrounding family functions, I have a happy home with a loving husband and a toddler that I adore. What more can I ask for?
Check out those Super Baby Gate things. You know, the ones that are a playpen that you can create the shape of? We put them around the tree and it keeps dogs and children out.
I have a gate to close off the room the tree is in and the rest of the house, but it also leads to the front door, so I would have to hop over that gate each time I need to get to the door! I will have to see how good she is this year, and hopefully won’t need to put it up! Thanks for the idea!