Each year at the beginning of the Christmas season I think
about what will make this Christmas memorable or different or whatever else.
This last year has been an adjustment to three kids and I feel that this
Christmas was busier and crazier than normal trying to accomplish the never
ending to-do list. But as Christmas has now come and gone I have thought about
a couple of things I’ve learned from this Christmas season that I wanted to
write down, even if I’m the only one who reads it.
I often think of this quote from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, “For it is good to be
children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder
was a child Himself.” Two experiences made this particularly poignant to me
this year.
#1 Earlier this fall when doing some testing for my oldest
he was asked what he would wish for if he was given three wishes. The doctor
told my husband and me that he had asked our son this and asked us to guess
what the answers were. Now I start asking my kids early what they want for
Christmas and they are quite creative making up toys that don’t exist so I
figured it was something like that. I was shocked when the doctor told us that
our son had wished for his own house and family of his own (when he is older)
and to be kind.
#2 I got the chance to take my boys shopping to buy a
present for each other. We decided last year this would be a good chance/lesson
for them to use their own money to buy something
for each other. I first shopped with the oldest and we counted his money while
at Target so he knew how much he had. He was ready to spend ALL his money on
something awesome for his little brother. It was quite sweet. I then shopped
with my youngest son and went through the same thing of counting his money at
the store. And just like his brother, he was ready to spend ALL his money on a
cool present for his brother. It was wonderful to see this moment twice separate from
each other how both of my boys wanted to give all they had to their brother.
That same brother that they fight with most of the day long and leg tackle and
yell at and punch, etc.
These two made me realize I need to focus my priorities and
see things more simply. My boys are such wonderful examples to me. I hope all
had a wonderful Christmas and wish you a Happy New Year!
