Christmas Reflections

I spent many hours planning Christmas this year. Mostly to such an extent as to fit within the family budget, but also to provide the maximum fun value to Kiernan. This is the year he would finally start to grasp what Christmas was all about. Or at least that was the plan. Funny how things work out isn't it?

Last year, we had to start tearing the wrapping off a package for Kiernan and he would finish. Well this year Kiernan didn't need to have nearly as much help opening his gifts. Of course, he seemed to think all of the gifts must be for him. He seemed to revel more in the opening of gifts than in the realization of what the gift was and whether or not it might be fun to play with. That is, with the exception of the gifts from my best friend Buffy.

Buffy is the QUEEN of tape! That woman could tape anything shut and you'd have no hope of ever getting it open again. Poor Kiernan would come to a package from her and look at me hopelessly like, "how am I supposed to open this, every inch of it is taped". I think we should hire her to come to the house and tape a few things shut that Kiernan gets into frequently despite our pleas to leave them alone. I teased her about that when I talked to her yesterday, but I have a feeling it didn't hit home. Surely she can't have forgotten what it is like to have a toddler around trying to open a gift given to them?

Alas I digress. The point I was getting at is that Kiernan gets the idea of getting gifts but still hasn't quite grasped the concept of why or what the occasion is. I did not take him to see Santa Claus this year, even though all our friends took their kids. I wanted to, but I kept thinking of how over-priced photos with Santa are and having images of some poor sap in a Santa suit in the mall, waiting in line for an hour only to find out that Kiernan is terrified of him. Or he might be throwing a temper tantrum by then because he is bored out of his mind and mommy just won't let him go do anything fun. It would be just my luck wouldn't it? Plus I don't think it would help him to understand the reason behind the season.

I put some window clings up on the big windows in the living room for the season. We would review frequently the various shapes and names. One of the scenes is of Mary and Joseph bending down over baby Jesus in a manger and the three wise men coming to bear gifts. Still, the concept of the season is elusive to our little boy. Perhaps I held my expectations too high? Or maybe I failed to explain things on a level he can understand? I will try again next year, probably with more luck.

Part of the reason for all of my planning for Christmas this year was to find some gifts to occupy Kiernan and reduce his demand to watch Monsters Inc. We had previously bought him a stuffed Mike for his birthday last month. This month Grandpa and Grandma bought him a stuffed Sully to go with him. He seems to like him just fine, but not enough to take his mind off the dreaded show.

We also got him some Megablocks to allow him to build things with, a Radio Flyer Rocket ride-on toy, and that was about it for the big ticket items. Do you know what that kid is drawn to more than anything else? A little $10 cell phone toy I bought as a stocking stuffer. Isn't that the way it always goes? It's the cheapest toy or the wrapping paper (or box) that gains all the attention. Even the little things he got from Buffy and Marci didn't hold his attention long. I am hopeful that over the next week something, anything, will grab his attention for more than a few minutes and it won't be something that is off limits.