30 Days of Thanks – Day 7
Today, I am thankful for Thanksgiving. The kid and I had a long talk about Christmas today. He knows that I don’t “do” Christmas until the day after Thanksgiving. He, on the other hand (because he’s 6) would gladly spend 363 days preparing for Christmas. He’s been trying to keep his enthusiasm on the down-low, not-so-slyly referring to “That C thing that we’re not talking about” and insisting that making ornaments in the middle of November is necessary or you might not have time to get them all done.
So today, he asked me why I don’t like Christmas. Essentially, here’s what I said.
I love Christmas. I love to choose gifts for the people I love and see how happy they are when they see what’s in the box or under the wrapping. I love baking and singing Christmas carols and advent calendars (he has 4 of them).
I love going to the tree farm and choosing our tree. I love how every year we say we should get a tree topper that works (ours stopped lighting up years ago) and every year, we don’t. I love getting out the ornaments and telling you stories about every one. I love how we have to get new lights every year, because they always go in the box working and come out broken. I love how every year, you decide that you want a different stocking, and choose which one everyone else should have, including the dogs.
I love loading the CD player with all the bizarre Christmas CDs we own and how you say, “Oh YEAH! I remember this song!”
I love going to ChristmasTown and seeing the lights. I love going to Santa’s Bag and watching your delight as you choose gifts with such care for each person you love.
But that said, Christmas has become kind of a bully over the years. Thanksgiving stands in line all year long, waiting patiently. It stands quietly, waiting for the end of November to roll around, watching as Halloween has its fun, excited because it gets to be next. But then, wait – what’s that? CHRISTMAS HAS CUT IN LINE!
I need to point something out here. Those of you without children may not be aware, but line cutting is a SERIOUS crime that shall not be tolerated. In the eyes of a 6-year-old, there are few things so dastardly as a line cutter.
So in my eyes, taking Christmas by the hand and pulling it out of turn is unfair. It’s disrespectful to Thanksgiving and to tell the truth, by about December 20th, has just about overstayed its welcome. Christmas has a time, and in my world, at least, that time starts the day after Thanksgiving.
The kid’s response? “I think I would have to hit Christmas.” Good to know he’d stick up for the underdog.
And if you want to see the Hexbugs in action:
