Friday, December 22, 2006

The Best Memory

Ten Christmases ago, I spent my first holiday season as a single mom in my new home. It was small and charming, but just perfect for me and my two kids, who were 8 and 5 at the time.

I know that the lie of “Santa Claus” is something that can make certain people cringe, but I admit it…I had my kids reeled in hook, line and sinker that the old, chubby guy came down the fireplace chimney every year. He was a great bargaining tool once Labor Day was over: “You’re gonna get coal in your stocking from Santa if you continue to fight like that!!!” Or, “You’d better do your homework, or Santa’s gonna tell Rudolph not to slow down when he flies over our house!” Thankfully, I didn’t have to use these threats often, as the sheer joy of the season would usually promote a sense of compliance and an attitude of easy-going-ness within my kids that was unexplainable.

That year I went a little overboard with my credit card. I was feeling a little displaced, and I wanted to make sure that my kids had a wonderful holiday despite our family circumstances. Once I put my kids to bed on Christmas Eve and was sure that they were asleep, I began to take out the gifts I had bought them “from Santa”, and place them under the tree. There was barely one inch of our tiny living room that wasn’t covered with presents! What couldn’t fit under the tree ended up on the couch or leaning against the wall. Presents were everywhere, and I began to get depressed thinking about the bills that would show up in January.

Since we had gone to bed late the night before, my kids slept in on Christmas morning. By about 10am, I couldn’t take it anymore, and I called upstairs with enthusiasm to tell them that Santa had been there while they slept! I heard their little feet hit the floor as both of them jumped out of bed and came running down the staircase, which ran along the side of the living room. About halfway down the steps, where the living room first came into full view, they stopped dead in their tracks and gasped; their mouths hung wide open.

“DYLAN!! WE MUST’VE BEEN REALLY GOOD THIS YEAR!!!” my daughter excitedly exclaimed.

Yes, my sweet angels, you were.


May you all have the healthiest and happiest of holidays, and may God bless you and yours in the coming new year.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lisa,
I can't wait to see my grandkids faces this year,,,,,,,,,they have been really, really good,,,,,,,,,and looking at my Visa bill,,,,,I've been bad, really bad!

Shameless nanny!

Anonymous said...

Lisa,
I've been memed by Roberta @ Elusive Abstractions,,,,,so therefore I have to meme you,,,,its fun,,,,,made me think about all the crazy things I've done in the past.

Anonymous said...

Lisa, you just have to mention 5 things that nobody knows about,,,,don't worry you don't have to talk about your criminal past, or the sex-change,,,my lips are sealed. Honestly.

Sideways Chica said...

Precious Lisa! Thank you for the smile. ;)

Have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Dust-bunny said...

Teri,

Thank you for the good wishes, and the very best to you and yours as well!

Take good care,
Lisa

Dust-bunny said...

Matty,

Yes, that January Visa bill gets us every time, doesn't it? I'm still paying for that Christmas, and every one thereafter as well! ;)

I'm posting my "five things" in your comments section for you latest post today!

Take good care,
Lisa

Kacey said...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Lisa! Thanks for a lovely story. As it turned out, you had your special Christmas with the children and kept moving up in the financial department, too. Sometimes when God closes a door, He opens wide a window. Your marriage is a big, picture window and it couldn't happen to a nicer person.

Dust-bunny said...

Kacey,

My marriage is priceless, that's for sure. There isn't enough money in the world that could buy genuine happiness, and I think God blesses those who realize that. Here's to one of the sweetest bloggers I know--I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Take good care,
Lisa

أُكتب بالرصاص said...

happy new year
:)

Dust-bunny said...

Abu,

Thank you for the good wishes. All the best to you and yours...hope 2007 is wonderful for you.

Take good care,
Lisa

Dust-bunny said...

أُكتب بالرصاص

Thank you, same to you! Sorry I don't understand your name...my Arabic is about as good as my Chinese.

Take good care,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Lisa, i will come back to read your post..i just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2007!
Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Lisa, i will come back to read your post..i just wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2007!
Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

Lisa, i came back and i read your post..really touching, i hope this christmas was just as good..i am sure your kids have been wonderful this year and every year. take care and enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Big Dave T said...

Once after my wife and I had put our kids' Christmas gifts under the tree Christmas Eve, one of our boys ran out into the living room looking for a drink of water, or something like that. He kinda looked aside, apparently seeing the wrapped presents under the tree, but didn't flinch at all. Went back to bed apparently unsuspecting (I think he was three or four at the time).

Wishing you the happiest of New Years.

Anonymous said...

good post Lisa. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and will have a terrific new year!

www.Carine-whatscooking.blogspot.com

Dust-bunny said...

Summer, Dave and Carine-

Sorry it has taken me so long to post replies! I hope that you all have a wonderful, prosperous New Year...I really do!! May the things we dream of become our realities in the near future. And may we have the confidence and stamina to acheive them.

Take good care,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Lisa,
I did check out those links, first alone, and then with the kids, and we laughed so hard I fell off the computer chair and the kids had to pick me up and we ended up all in a pile.,,,ever laugh so hard your mascara burns your eye's and you can't open them? It burns. What a good time we had, there is nothing like a good laugh to take the stress away and turn a miserable day into a great one!
Thanks for the links, I have passed them on.

Dust-bunny said...

Matty,

I cry and I can't breathe every time I watch the PTA clip. I admit, I am very immature when it comes to this kind of stuff! Heck, it keeps me young!

Take good care,
Lisa