Lil E explains: The true meaning of the holidays

Lil E: Mommy! Mommy! Mommmmmy, can you turn down the loud music? I need to tell you something. I really do like the toys that Santa brings. But what I really, really like at the holidays is all the fun stuff we do.

Me: Like going to see Santa at the top of the Hancock?

Lil E: Yeah. And perhaps even going to parties. Making coooooookies. Singing sonnnnnngs.

Me: You enjoy making all those happy memories.

Lil E: I do! I like the presents too. But mostly, I like all the fun stuff we do together and with Grandma and Grandpa. Oh! And our friends.

Me: That's really important because one day, when you are all grown up and the toys are long gone, you will still be able to have all those memories of the fun stuff in your heart and in your thoughts.

Lil E: Where will the toys go?

Me: What do you mean?

Lil E: WHERE WILL THE TOYS GO?  

Me: Well, you won't have them anymore. You won't need them. You will be all grown up and you probably won't keep every little thing.

Lil E: Whyyyyy?

Me: You will be all grown up and too big for some of the toys. Just like you are too big for the baby toys now and we put them away. But you will have the memories of all the fun stuff and happy times and holidays, so you won't need to keep all of the toys.

Lil E: But I don't want to throw away the toys.  I like them all. I like the memories, but I don't want to ever throw away the toys. I will keep the toys. I think I would like to keep them all.

Me: Oh, honey.

Lil E: I DO! I LIKE THE FUN STUFF BUT I DON'T WANT TO THROW AWAY THE TOYS, MOMMY!

Me: OK, honey. We can just put them in the storage space with the baby toys.

Lil E: OK. That's a good idea, Mommy... But even more than the toys, I really do like all the fun stuff. That really is my favorite part of the holidays.

Me: I know it is, honey. I do know.

Lil E: Ummm, can you turn the music back up now?