Green Jello Surprise
Dec 25, 2008 Parenting, Random
Do you remember when you were a kid and you would wake up on Christmas morning and it was as if the tree vomited beautifully wrapped gifts out into the family room floor?
The immense buzz of not knowing exactly what is inside of each carefully wrapped present is indescribable.
I cannot remember a Christmas where I didn’t get at least 1 of my wishes sent in form of a Santa Letter. My grandparents did a great deal of the Santa’ing in our family being that we were financially strapped for most of my tweenage years. Regardless, I always remember being so grateful for what I received. It meant a lot that ‘Santa’ was listening, and in the long run, it meant that much more that Santa did not always come through with each and every want that I had.
As a kid I probably whined that I wanted this and that and only received this, but deep down I knew the reason why.
Life lessons are funny that way.
I look at the people in the world that have everything and for a split second I become a bowl of green jello, wishing that I could be them and have what they have. I imagine the things that I would do with the money in their checking accounts, and the balances on their American Express Cards… giving my kids the lavishest holidays imaginable.
Only for that split second though because the Today’s happen. The genuine gratitude from an 8 year old is something that I wish I could bottle up and prescribe to every single ungrateful snob I know. (I know too many ungrateful fucking snobs, I swear) Xavier did not get a single thing on his list because we 1) couldn’t afford it or 2) couldn’t find it and he was still absolutely elated. He beamed and hugged and thanked us for giving him the ‘best Christmas yet’. He got an Mp3 player with 200 songs already loaded on it, and he hasn’t taken the earbuds out of his ear all day.
That brings me back down from my envious pedestal in the clouds to certain reality. My kids are grounded. They don’t need extravagance. And I do not want to give it to them. I want them to remember Christmas as more than presents. I want them to give more than they receive. Because, that is what the holiday season is about to me. Even if that gift is as small as a compliment or sharing a special recipe or memory with someone who needs a smile. I constantly remind X about the feeling of good that comes with helping out someone less fortunate than we are. We have been the less fortunate before, and because of others believing in the spirit of giving we were able to get through some of the toughest times of our lives.
I hope that because of these moments, he will remain well rounded and appreciative of our firm stance on what we believe to be important.
I had a great Christmas. A relaxed day of great food and family. Being that D and I already spent our gift money on our date, there wasn’t much for us to open. To be honest, this is the first year that it truly did not matter to me. Call me all growed up, but all of the Christmas’s before… I really wanted something special for me under the tree.
Little did I know, there actually was something special. *grin*
I got a Flute for Christmas. An immaculate flute that has barely even ever been touched by the previous owner. I think I maybe mentioned it one time….. that I would love it to have the ability to play again… and there it was, under my tree. For me.
Maybe one day my CharliBear will take after her band geek mommy and I can pass it down to her. Until then, I will be practicing. I might even let those close to me hear me play again.
I am off to give D his belated Christmas present. A blow-job. Wrapped with a pretty pink lipgloss bow. 
What did you do for Christmas this year?
Did you have anything under the tree from Santa? (I dont want to hear ‘nothing special’ either.)
What charity do you most support? If you could do one thing for that charity, money and time being no object… what would that be? *Be creative peeps. *
Tags: band geek, elaborate affair, flute, green jello, immaculate, morals, mp3 player, music, Parenting, surprise
