Day: December 24, 2004

Every Christmas Eve I have a moment when I’ve arranged all the surprises, wrapped all the presents, stuffed all the stockings, then I stand back and look at the array and wonder “will they be happy?” As a parent I really want Christmas to be a joyful, magical day where dreams come true. Some years I’ve stood back and wondered if I’d gotten too much, thus causing overload. This year I fear disapointment. There are simply some items that my kids would love to have and I can’t afford to buy for them. Tonight during our Christmas Eve ritual we talked carefully about finding joy in giving and mentioned the fact that we won’t all get everything we want.

I hope that if there are tears tomorrow I know what to say to mend them.

I do not think I have ever seen Gleek as wired as she was this evening. She quite literally could not sit still during dinner. She was running laps across the kitchen. Then when I made her stay in her chair she stood on it bouncing up and down flapping her arms while I spooned bites of food into her mouth. Attempting reverse psychology I said “I bet you can’t sit still for three minutes.” As expected she said “Yes I can!” Then she sat down motionless for two seconds then started drumming her feet against the table.

Christmas is exciting.