3 Kid Christmas

Christmas for me really began when I had my kids.  That's when the real fun started.  Once they were at that age where they would wake up early on Christmas morning--bright eyed and bushy tailed, they would come running full speed into our bedroom yelling it's Christmas!  Well, that's when I began having the Christmas adrenaline rushes.  Truly--I think once awake I was more excited than they were.  Just watching them tear into their gifts, screaming with enthusiasm made the long lines and aching back worth it.  It really did.  Let me explain.

I would start my Christmas shopping in January--no kidding.  I shopped all year long.  As I would go about my days and weeks, I would pick up little items for this person or that person, I would stash them away, usually in a closet with a lock.  I would intently listen to my children as they played or watched television commercials and as they would exclaim over each new product I would make a mental note.  It would eventually make its way onto my secret Christmas list and while they were in school I'd begin my shopping.  I'd patiently wait for the items to go on sale and then I'd pounce.  I was and still am good at pouncing.  And I still to this day listen intently as we all get together for various family functions.

I've always been the type to want to buy the perfect gift, something that maybe they wouldn't buy for themselves--something a little extravagant.  So, I start early--so what?  I enjoy it, it's a huge part of my personality. When my kids were little, it became a pastime for me, a hobby of sorts.  After they started school I worked part time for a major retailer and wow did I have fun.  Little did that store know--I would have paid them to let me work there!  I had that much fun.  I was able to purchase all their school clothing and most of their gifts throughout the year at huge savings.  Not only did I only buy items on sale, I received an employee discount.  What in life could be better than an employee discount?  That job had my name written all over it.

Our Christmas mornings were awesome.  We'd get up early, have our traditional cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa (coffee for the parents of course) and then one by one each taking turns we'd open our presents.  We'd make it last--a long time.  Each gift getting its due.  After all, I'd put in so much effort.  I think secretly--ok maybe not so secretly--I wanted credit.  Lots of credit.  Planning, thought, love, attention, purchasing, hiding, wrapping--a lot went into each and every item.  And it was worth it too.  Most times.  Every once in a while though, I'd get it wrong--wrong color or size or even every so often a--oh mom, I don't like these anymore, that was last year.  And while it stung for a moment I did not let it detour me for next year.  I got over it quickly.

It's a little different now.  Our kids are all grown and now we have grandkids.  Our little family has grown to 11, and I still get those Christmas adrenaline rushes.  I still listen and plan and conspire and shop and wrap and get so much more excited than any other family member.  And I wait--patiently for each and every gift to be opened.  I watch the little faces of my grandchildren as they open their gifts from grandma and grandpa.  I over buy and over shop and over love and I don't care what anyone thinks.  Christmas morning isn't always on Christmas now--sometimes we have to have Christmas on a different day depending on whose family we are with and that's OK.  I am good at pretending for the sake of Christmas.  I can close my eyes and reopen them to Christmas mornings long ago when there were only 3 of them.  I can see them opening their gifts in front of our California Christmas tree with the sun shining in the background, a fire burning in the fireplace even though sometimes it would be so warm we'd have to open a window.  I can still see the brightness in their eyes and hear the exclamations and squeals of delight.  Yes, I hear and see it all over again year after year through the sights and sounds of my grandchildren.  Only now, right behind them are the eyes of my children with the same looks on their faces as I used to have on mine.  We are all watching the little ones--their little hearts touching ours.

You see, I've discovered something--my 3 kid Christmas is so much better now.  It's an 11 kid Christmas, or better yet--a 13 kid Christmas--with me being the biggest kid of all.  I don't think anything could ruin my Christmas mornings because I have my memories--memories of our 3 kid Christmases.  And I am so thankful for that and for all future Christmas mornings (or evenings) together.  No matter the time of day or actual date--when we're all together Christmas begins.