Mrs. Claus does all of the shopping and wrapping, yet, somehow, Santa and the elves get all the credit…
Mrs. Claus, oh how I can relate to your plight! Afterall, behind every magical Christmas is a mother working tirelessly to make it all possible. It really wasn’t until I became a mother myself that I gained a true appreciation for my own mom’s holiday efforts. As a parent, I’ve come to learn that much of the Christmas mystique I experienced as a child was really just an incredible mama who loved me very much. And so, my fellow New Canaan moms, this one’s for you…
Although my children might assume so, Christmas doesn’t just happen. Oh no, it takes time, energy and meticulous planning to successfully execute. I, for one, begin my holiday shopping months in advance, stashing away treasures throughout the house in preparation for the big day. As much as I am ashamed to admit, it is not uncommon for me to forget exactly what items I have purchased and where, exactly, I have hidden them. And I may or may not have stumbled across a forgotten present or two while spring cleaning in May…
Now one would think that getting a head start would give me a big one up come December, but, unfortunately, this is often not the case. Woefully, and much to my chagrin, my family’s wish lists are ever-evolving specimens that seemingly grow in length with each passing day. Thus, prepping too far in advance is a gamble, and, well, I win some and lose some. For instance, that American Girl gymnastics set my daughter was “dying” to have just a weeks ago, is now suddenly absent from her memory; gone without a trace, now replaced by Barbie’s remote-control convertible (the one from the movie NOT the other model). Subsequently, after several more similar incidents, I’ve officially declared that the North Pole is no longer accepting requests.
Another annual obstacle I undoubtedly encounter is remembering exactly how many gifts I’ve accumulated for each child. So, this week, my task at hand is to take inventory…is everything relatively fair and as equal as possible? Did I invest a similar amount into every family member? We all know that comparison is the thief of joy, and I certainly don’t need any such negative feelings putting a damper on my festive fantasies. Alas, hard as I might try, one of the kids always seems to be more heavily endowed than the others which will inevitably send me back to the drawing board in a frantic scramble to even things out in the weeks ahead.
My husband, bless his heart, only further adds to my Christmas pileup by, quite possibly, being the most difficult man on the planet to shop for. He never seems to be able to pinpoint anything specific that he hopes to receive, and when I ask for suggestions, I am usually met with vague responses at best. Every year I hear, “I’ll send you some ideas…”, and, well neighbors, let’s just say that I’m still waiting…And after many years of stressing over what exactly to get him, I have finally had an epiphany. The best gift I can give my sweet hubby is the joy of seeing fewer items charged on our monthly Amex bill. That, and, of course, the element of surprise he gets to experience on Christmas morning when he too discovers what’s inside the pretty packages “from Mom and Dad”. To him, those are the gifts that keep on giving.
Now, I am fully aware that the true meaning of Christmas has nothing to do with material purchases, and, together, Tyler and I have worked very hard to instill this in our three children. However, gift giving is a reality of the season and, for better or worse, a major focal point. So as the 25th of December draws near, I want the moms out there who continue to scour the stores, pay expedited shipping fees, and wrap furiously in order to create Christmas, to know that you are not alone. We are all out there fighting the fight beside you. Afterall, we may not have it all together, but together we certainly have it all! I look forward to seeing you again with fresh newbie narrations in 2024. Until then, New Canaan, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Cheers!
