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Santa and the Freaking Elf on a Shelf: Part 1

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Saturday, December 3, 2011

Santa and the Freaking Elf on a Shelf: Part 1

I used to love this time of year. The magic of Christmas made everything so warm and fuzzy and happy. We used to go to my grandparent's church on Christmas Eve and it was always a nice beginning to the evening. For the last five years we have gone to Willow Creek for the Christmas service and it blows me away and my kids are always in awe of it. They beg us to go back for "regular" church but it's a little far for us. Last year, we didn't go because Gia was so young and she really hated the car so we went to Wheaton Bible. It was very nice but we sat in the gym which isn't the same but we are usually late getting there so it serves us right. When Leo and I were dating we had a tradition where we'd go to different neighborhoods and look at the lights. We used to talk about when we'd get married and have our own house and how we would decorate. Apparently, he thought part of the magic of Christmas was that the lights get put up without him having to do it because it is like pulling teeth to get him to do it.

Anyway, these days I am struggling with this time of year. Not struggling unhappy but struggling in feeling overwhelmed. I feel like it snuck up on me. My kids are at really hard ages. They want things that are a little out of reach. Nico wants cable in his room and the whole Nike/Under Armour/Jordan line of apparel, Tommy and Belle want phones, fat heads and televisions. Gone are the days of Little People, Imaginex, Barbies and Dolls. Speaking of which, I know they'll come back again because I have Gia but right now, she likes everything for about 30 seconds so it's hard to justify spending the money. I just finished purging my house, it looks exactly how I want it and now I have to decorate it for Christmas which normally I love to do but this year, I am feeling a little uninspired.

The questions about Santa are hard ones. I want to keep the magic alive for as long as possible. I go to great lengths to do that. Nico doesn't believe anymore but the twins still do. One year I heard Nico say, "The only way we are getting a Wii is if there really is a Santa because there is no way my parents can afford it." So what did I do? That's right, I went to 20 stores looking for one and finally, my mom knew a guy whose brother was a manager at a Target in Schaumburg. I got one and the look on Nico's face (he was in 4th grade, I think) was priceless when he went down the stairs on Christmas morning. Another time it was by accident. He was in 5th grade and I had accidentally bought him a rated "T" game and he wasn't allowed to play them at the time. He said, "Wow! There really is a Santa because you'd never buy this for me." For Nico the end came in 6th grade. He flat out asked me if there really was a Santa and I told him no. He was completely shocked that I told him. He kept saying, "I'm so sad. I can't believe you told me." I told him that he could help me keep the magic alive for the twins and help me the night before. He wasn't buying it. He got mad that I told him and after being badgered about it I finally said, "I'm sorry. It just seemed wrong that you could have your first girlfriend and still believe in Santa Claus." I then added, "Just because there isn't a man in a red suit delivering presents doesn't mean the magic of Christmas isn't real. The feeling that you get on Christmas. The warmth and the family time and the feeling you get when you give someone a gift that you know they'll love, that is the magic of Christmas." He said, "Wait...what about all the gifts? How did you guys afford them?" I looked at him and sighed, "And that, Nico, really is the magic of Christmas because I have no idea."

Tomorrow, I'll discuss the twins and how I handle all the school talk and the Elf.

2 Comments:

At December 4, 2011 at 6:56 AM , Blogger Kendra Mareva said...

I can't remember how old I was when I found out there was no Santa. Probably when I was either in 4th or 5th grade. It was a hard secret to keep under wraps considering I had two older brothers. Funnily enough, it was my mom who slipped up about the Easter Bunny, making me suspicious of the whole Santa thing too. ;)

 
At December 6, 2011 at 7:28 AM , Blogger AnnMarie said...

Since I am the oldest, I rememember believing for a long time. Then I remember trying to keep the magic alive for my sisters. I just hope Nico doesn't get in a fight with the twins and blurt it out.

 

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