Same holiday, different year

Tonight is Lil E's co-op Christmas program. In preparation, the kids have a half day so that mommies have two extra hours to convince them to put on photo-op holiday clothes and product in their hair. All of this so that when thousands of photos and streaming digital camera video are shot of the wee performers on the sanctuary "stage," the lovely back-lighting from the stained glass windows will completely black out their little bodies all decorated in bows and embroidered scottie dogs, so that only a shadow of their sobbing or distracted faces will be outlined.

                               

Do you see the little angels? Exactly.

The sanctuary, which of course is just beyond a large and bright gym with an actual stage, is perhaps not the best venue for the classrooms of children singing hymns and carols for their proud parents.

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Where I suddenly realize the next freaking stop's Christmas

Looking at the week ahead on my calendar, makes me wiggy. I see all of the scribbled out commitments -- Lil E's co-op Christmas program (no diplomatic "holiday" assembly here, people, this is all Jesus, pre-birthday), a party of my own, a family caroling get-together, a winter solstice service, seeing Santa, lining up against the windows in front of Marshall Field's Macy's, getting out cards, deadlines galore. Oh, and did I mention that I've officially purchased two whole gifts so far? So...wiggy.

And then there are all the friends I haven't seen in ages, the lovely little holiday goodness of baking and decorating and delivering treats to friends and neighbors, taking the time to just stop, sit down and stare into the lights on the tree. I need all of those things right now, perhaps more than any other year, and all I've seen is that list of things to do.

As my mom says, even in the most challenging years, the holidays will come. Even when the list is long and the commitments are many and the holiday comes at your family like a freight train, it comes. And then, there you are in your pajamas with coffee, watching the small child frantically tear into wrapping paper or laughing as he apathetically steps past an unopened toy you labored over for weeks. There it is, right in your living room, and there you are, in the middle of it no matter what you've checked off or has yet to be completed.

Christmas is a week away, no matter how much denial or how in over my head I am. One week away and I will be in it, no matter what. So today, one piece of that list at a time, I will make my way toward it. And I will try try try to stop the train and stare into the lights for just a minute each day until all the lovely parts are laying contentedly among the bows and shredded paper and it is all already done.

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How to get kicked out of preschool

The Santa (Sweat) Shop was four hours of complete insanity with tape (not enough) and a screaming child (mine) but honestly, does not warrant this.

Although it would be fucking hilarious, right? Just to send him to co-op in this shirt and never say a word about it. La la la, how was story time? And look at this glitter pinecone ornament you made, honey! Alright, grab your coat and let's go home and laugh about how effing riotous we are over fishy crackers and strawberry milk!

Or maybe, just order it for the kid to wear around the grandparents at the holidays. Jesus Mary and Joseph, Jessica, do you actually let that kid wear that kind of profanity out and about on the streets and in public and God forbid, at daycare? Please, for the love of Sesame Street, say it isn't so! You're joking with this, right Jessica?! This is your idea of a goddamn joke, isn't it?!

So really, the options are endless. Just slooowwwwly put down the CrewCuts snowflake kiddie tights that cost more than the rest of the outfit and order this brilliance already. I mean, it is the holidays.




 

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