Getting ready for Christmas with a five year-old is a little different than getting ready for Christmas with a four year-old. Last year, when we went to look at Christmas lights, we spent a good portion of the evening trying to convince Kiera that we were not lost.
In fact, I remember part of the conversation. We hopped in the vehicle ready to show Kiera Christmas lights and…
Aaron said. “We are going to find the prettiest Christmas lights!”
Kiera replied, “But, it’s not Christmas… why do people have their lights going?”
Aaron began to explain, “Well, it is almost Christmas. Everyone decorated to show how excited they are for Christmas.”
There was a pause and Kiera asked, “Where is this place?”
I reached over and squeezed Aaron’s hand at that point and tried to keep from bursting out in laughter. “Well, it’s not a place. It’s just houses that we are going to drive by.” Aaron responded.
Kiera got quiet as she processed this new information. Feeling pretty confident that he had ended the discussion, Aaron turned down a road and we oohed and aahed over a few lit up houses. As Aaron turned around in the cul-de-sac, Kiera piped up in the back seat. “Are we lost?”“No baby. We aren’t lost. The road ends so I have to turn around.” Aaron explained.
“Why does it stop?” She asked and then continued on. “Are we there yet?”
I managed to control my urge to laugh and gave Aaron a break from answering questions. “No, baby. We aren’t going to one place. We are just driving.”
Kiera responded, “Well, are we lost?”
I turned to the window so she could not see the smile breaking across my face and listened as Aaron explained patiently that he was not lost, he was sorry the road was bumpy, he did not know why a certain house had a bigger snowman than another house and so on.
Needless to say it was eventful but memorable.
This year we have gone out several times looking at lights and it was nowhere near as eventful as last year but it was still memorable.
I have noticed that this year we are contending with Kiera’s memories. Several months ago, Kiera wanted a scooter. She saw one in a store and we discussed at length that if she wanted to buy it we would have to sell some of her toys. She finally decided that she was good with that decision. We bought the scooter and came home and went through her toys.
She had some wooden puzzles that were better suited for toddlers. They were very simple puzzles with the big wooden handles that make it easier for small hands to grasp.
We also decided to get rid of her play kitchen because she had been given a second one. There were a couple of other toys that we got rid of but she cried over the puzzles and the toy kitchen as they left the house.
I, being the naïve mother that I can be, thought that we had moved passed the sale of those items. It had been months since they went to some other child. Months, people!
Now, fast-forward to December and a conversation with a random stranger… I don’t remember where we were but I do remember that someone took the time and asked Kiera what she wanted for Christmas.
I remember looking at her sweet, little innocent eyes as she replied, “I want puzzles and a kitchen because Mommy sold mine.”
I came very close to crawling under a rock at that moment. “Honey, remember we sold your puzzles because they were too little for you and you have another kitchen to play with!” I hastily interjected.
“Yes, but I was going to let my baby dolls play with the baby puzzles. And I really liked both kitchens.” She innocently explained.
My child not only sold me down the river, she captained the boat. Now, I probably could have survived her telling that to one person but I know of at least three different people she told. Thankfully, we seem to have moved past the grief of selling the puzzles and toys. She didn’t even ask Santa for either of those so maybe we are home free. I’ll let you know next week after we open gifts.
I love the memories that we make every day and I can’t wait to see what Christmas memories we make this year. I hope each of you have a blessed and Merry Christmas. Enjoy the crazy little moments during your time together with family and friends. I know I will!
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Rowonna McNeely is a graphic artist for Willie’s T’s Screenprint & Embroidery. She is a mother of a four year old girl and step mother of two adult girls. Her crazy life includes a dog, Sloane and psychotic cat, Gracie. Both females. She is married to her prince, who is outnumbered by the opposite gender.
