Jesus and Santa Clause

This Christmas season, we've been focusing on the meaning behind the holiday and why we celebrate Christmas.  There are posts in my newsfeed every day about how Santa Clause is evil, and your kids will grow up to hate you for lying to them when they realize Santa Clause isn't real.  Some even go far enough with the  "real vs fiction" realization to declare that kids will start to think that Jesus is a lie, too.  I used to think these posts were a deliberate attempt to make me feel like a horrible mom to even consider inviting Santa to stop at our house.  However, after trying to rationalize Jesus and Santa Clause to a toddler, I kind of understand the dilemma!  I grew up believing in both, and I turned out just fine, but what if I am dooming my kids?  

Molly wants absolutely nothing to do with the discussions.  She knows that there are presents under the tree and she wants to open all of them.  NOW.  She cares not why they are there, or from whom they came.  

On the other hand, if you ask Jack why we celebrate Christmas, he wil throw his arms out and excitedly yell, "JESUS!!".  Then, in a quiet voice, he adds "And Santa Clause? With the presents?".  Yes, sweet boy, but mainly Jesus.

After much debate, and lots of eye-rolling from my husband, we've decided that our family will celebrate the birth of Christ, while maintaining the spirit of Santa.  I don't think we will push the naughty or nice agenda, or chastise our little ones, reminding them that Santa "sees you when you're sleeping!".  That's a bit creepy for me.   So, just as Jesus freely gave everything for us, while we clearly didn't deserve it, Santa will bring gifts for our children.  Trust me- Toddlers are not capable of being good enough to "earn" the things that Santa brings them.   I certainly won't judge anyone who decides to abolish Saint Nick at their house, but if your kids come to kindergarten and gleefully tell mine that Santa is a fraud, we'll have more than family traditions to discuss.  

Merry Christmas, and other fun stuff

It's December 17, and my Christmas shopping is complete (for the littles).  Have I even started buying gifts for everyone else in my life?  Oh, goodness no.  Let's keep it interesting and completely last- minute, shall we?

In fairness, Jack and Molly's big gift was brought to our house a few weeks ago, so there wasn't much to do in terms of gift-getting.  

They absolutely adore it.  I am so happy that we have something to play on outside!  It satisfies their monkey-like climbing addiction, and there's nothing sweeter than a completely, slap-dab worn out toddler at nap time.

In other semi-related news, Amazon Prime is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to us. Especially during these massive lightning deal sales.  Every.Single.Day, there is something on sale that we just need.   Some items, like the kids' balance bikes, were smart, sensible buys.  We were planning on buying them for birthday gifts, so getting them 50% off a few months early makes sense.  However, the other 15 packages that have shown up on our doorstep in the past few weeks are of more questionable necessity. I mean, Paul bought himself a bicycle.  It's a great bike, and he's wanted one for a long time, but still.  Darn you, Amazon Prime!

If I don't get around to blogging before Christmas, I hope that each and every one (and I mean one, since I probably have no readers left...) of you has an amazing Christmas.  I know at we will!

Breaking Radio Silence

So, I am pretty much the worst blogger ever.  Actually, if it's been 9 months since my last blog post, am I still even considered a blogger?  Probably not.  I digress-  I'm getting off-topic already.  

Toddlers.  That's why I'm back.  I need an outlet to talk about toddlers.  And the insane way in which two tiny people can completely alter the course of of my existence so drastically that I literally cannot remember what life consisted of before they arrived. Who I was, what I did which my spare time, what silence sounded like...  Those types of things.  I didn't realize that it is normal to breeze from emotion to emotion, flitting between insanely happy to maddeningly angry before my brain could even begin to comprehend the former.  And, in the blink of an eye, I'm back to this all-consuming love that makes me question how I could ever have been upset with these little angel children at all.  It's insanity.  That's what this whole parenting gig is about.  But I really love it.

 

Today was one of those sickeningly great days. The kind where I was desperate to call in to work and just sit home absorbing the sweetness that is Jack and Molly.  We tore up pieces of perfectly good construction paper and stuck it to strips of packing tape.  Why?  Because it seemed like a good idea when I saw it on Pinterest.  It totally lived up to my expectations.  The best part was turning those clumps of paper and tape into completely awesome super-hero belts.  Take that Pinterest-  an original idea, by me!  Jack cried when he had to take his belt off for a much-needed nap, which made me feel like a super-hero for inventing the paper tape belts in the first place.

The fact that Molly pulled a spider-monkey when she realized I had to go to work might have encouraged the, "My kids really love and appreciate me!" feeling a little bit.  Honestly, a real super mom would have a crisis plan in place to avoid the clingy toddler situation, but I haven't pinned that yet.  Right now, I am enjoying the small, happy moments when both of my offspring are perfect- because they are exceedingly rare- and tomorrow, I'm certain that they will drive me absolutely bonkers and I'll want to throttle each of them.   Twice.