A couple of days ago, after being asked for about the millionth time if Christmas was tomorrow, I sat my five year old down with some red and green construction paper, scissors, and a glue stick to make a paper chain. With palpable enthusiasm (I seriously don't know if he has any other kind) Suki cut the strips in alternating colors, glued them into circling links, and created the art project to save my sanity this holiday season. Each night he tears off one of the links in the chain that takes us closer to Christmas with an enthusiastic (seriously, it's his go to emotion these days) declaration that "Christmas in almost here, Mom!" It is a paper chain miracle.
This holiday season I am determined to win the fight against the insane pressure to spend money on presents, decorations, food, gift cards, that elf on a shelf thing, ugly sweaters that are now trendy, when all I want is the delight of having young children who still experience each holiday season with fresh eyes, and of course, unbridled enthusiasm (like a little bronco, I'm telling you).
So far we've been successful. Decorating the tree was rediscovering each ornament and its history with awe. Baking gingerbread men with raisin eyes and candy buttons only to gobble them right up. Listening to Christmas carols with the hope that the next song will be Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. Making paper chains decorated with a bright tree and shining star that reminds me that each day closer to Christmas is a day to cherish my kids and the innocence of the season and the enthusiasm that shines so bright (it's pretty much blinding, in the best way possible.)
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