REMEMBER THE EXCITEMENT you felt as a child about Christmas? The I-can’t-wait-until-we-can-open-our-presents sort of excitement. Perhaps some of you didn’t wait, opting to search for hidden packages when your parents weren’t around or were too busy to notice. You found, carefully unwrapped and re-wrapped your gifts because you just could not wait until the big day. How did that work out for you?
My son will tell you it’s not much fun to know what you’re getting for Christmas. Unbeknownst to me, he scouted out his gifts one December. Oh, the confessions of adult children (which seems such an oxymoron).
The other day my 7 ½-year-old granddaughter asked her mom why she wasn’t more excited about Christmas. If Izzy ever becomes a mom, she’ll understand. As moms, Amber and I get it. There’s so much to do. Cards to send. Shopping to do. Gifts to wrap. Cookies to bake. Holiday meals to prepare. Christmas events to attend. It’s a lot to cram into a single month.
So, yes, Izzy’s observation about her mom’s tempered Christmas cheer was accurate. Kids experience the joy, magic and fun of Christmas without any of the work. As it should be. Time passes too quickly and we grow into adulthood with all the responsibilities that entails.
I want my dear, sweet granddaughter to hold onto the magic of Christmas for as long as she can. These early years of her life are wonderful and magical and precious. That she holds such excitement for Christmas is exactly as it should be when she’s seven going on eight.
© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Recent Comments