Yep. That's our Santa picture this season. In the years to come, hopefully my children will find it funny. Hopefully.
My children are 2 and 3 years old. My 3 year old has entered a new stage in his life that entails torturing the very soul of my mental capacity. The trouble that child can get into in the time it takes me to switch the laundry or use the bathroom is impressive. This month alone he has poured a 5 pound bag of sugar onto my kitchen floor, dumped water on it, and left his sister there to start licking it. He poured out a bag of rice onto the kitchen floor and stomped all over it. He started screaming "no" at my husband and I on an HOURLY basis. He won't eat his dinner. One hour of t.v. time isn't enough. One cookie isn't enough. The tantrums bring me to my knees.
At the end of the day he always tells me, "I love you, sweet dreams, see you in the morning. You wake me up." He curls up under his dinosaur comforter, baby elephant tucked under his arm, smiles at me and falls asleep.
Anyway, I almost ruined Christmas for these kids. I was expecting to decorate our Christmas tree, bake cookies, build a gingerbread house, drive around to see lights, watch Santa come on the train, take card-worthy pictures, giggle while we look for their elves in the morning, go to church and fill their hearts to the brim with magic.
This is not how it is happening. Christmas trees do not get put up fast enough. Gingerbread houses don't dry quickly enough. Cookies don't bake in 3 seconds. Lights are soooo cool. The elves were boring after day 3. God is a difficult concept for them. There hasn't been one picture yet where one of them isn't crying.
I dropped the bomb after tantrum #12 involved Seymour and Lucy (the elves) getting punched into the toilet. "You know what? Santa's not coming." is what I said to my 2 and 3 year old. My son overheard me telling my husband they were ruining Christmas earlier that same day. Wow, I suck. I just put 2 elves in a coffin. A coffin! I've had a yucky year and I'm feeling bad about myself but there is NO reason to say things like that to little children.
Tonight my son asked my husband if he was ruining Christmas. I crumbled into a million pieces. He heard me say those awful things! No wonder he's acting out. I took a deep breath, went into his bedroom, picked him up and told him MOMMY was ruining Christmas. He asked me in that adorable 3 year old voice if Santa was still going to bring him presents. I looked him in the eyes and told him that he has the biggest, nicest heart I have ever known and Santa would bring him wonderful presents. He smiled so big I thought his cheeks would explode.
After that, the fight to get him to go to bed stopped. The yelling stopped. I caught myself just in time to turn this season around. In order to enjoy Christmas with 2 little kids you have to lower your expectations. Christmas is hard to understand at first. I'm admitting my terrible mistake for the other mommys out there feeling frustrated. You're not alone.
Christmas is a time for love! If my kids want to put all the ornaments on one branch, they can. If they want to touch Seymour and Lucy, go for it. I'll give them a wink if they sneak a cookie before dinner. I'll empty a whole tank of gas driving them around to see all the lights if I have to! I'll read them the Christmas story again and again. Go ahead, watch another episode of that silly lizard cartoon. Just please have an amazing Christmas. Mommy is so sorry.
