BAD, BAD MOMMY! (AGAIN)

So remember a few weeks ago, right after Halloween, when I wrote about forgetting to put money under my son’s pillow for a lost tooth? How terrible I felt? I mean, how badly I felt that the Tooth Fairy screwed up?

Well, shortly after that, Eric, the son who was forgotten, came home from school and said that a boy told him that he caught his mom putting money under his pillow once and that PROVES that the Tooth Fairy doesn’t exist. It’s really just Good Ol’ Mom. Both boys wanted to know if that was true. They’re 10 now, so I asked them if they REALLY wanted to know the truth and they emphatically said YES. So I told them the truth.

Eric said, “I knew it!” and Adam said, “Noooooo, I didn’t want to know the truth!” Great!

Then, last night, Eric told me that he wishes I didn’t tell him the truth.

Really? Just stomp on my heart some more, little ones! They still believe in Santa Clause and you can bet that I’ll NEVER be the ones to tell them he doesn’t exist. NEVER, EVER, EVER!!!

Karen

What I’ve Learned This Holiday Season…

This holiday season, I have learned three things.  First of all, I learned that as much as I like it when my husband shares things, I DO NOT like it when he shares his nasty ol’ cold with me.  Being sick over the holidays is NO FUN.  And he actually had the nerve to say, “How do you know you got it from me?”  Um, hello?  Really?  I got it three days after you, I have exactly the same symptoms as you, and oh yeah, I SLEEP IN THE SAME BED AS YOU.  Enough said.

The second thing I realized is that I am SOOOOO going to miss it when my kids stop believing in Santa Clause.  Having grown up Jewish and not having participated in the whole Santa experience (we were just told that of course there’s no such thing, but don’t spoil it for all those silly little friends of ours who believe or we’d be in BIG trouble), this has been such a magical experience, watching it through their eyes.  But they are 9 now, and I fear that this will be our last year.  Of course, I thought this last year, so you never know!

Lastly, I learned that as a mother, I must have done something right over the past 9 years with my boys.  No, really!  When they were finally allowed to wake us up (strict orders not before 7:00!), they ran down and opened Santa’s gifts, but before they would open any of the mounds (and I do mean mounds, thanks to Dad) of gifts from us under the tree, they insisted I open the gifts they made for me.  Even when I insisted they open theirs first, they refused until I opened mine.  I don’t think I was ever prouder of them than at that very moment.

I love my kids!

Happy New Year to you and your families!!!

Karen

I DO Believe, I DO Believe

When do kids stop believing in the Easter Bunny? And for that matter, Santa Clause? My boys are 8 years old and honestly believe that a magic bunny travels the world delivering plastic, multi-colored eggs with candy inside of them. Now, I somewhat understand the Santa Clause thing, but the Easter Bunny? Surely they can think through this using some form of reality, can't they?

Okay, let me explain. I was raised in a Jewish household, so Easter was no big deal for us. Actually, I take that back. Every year, on the Monday AFTER Easter, my dad would go to the drug store and buy us Easter baskets. Because, of course, they were half off! So yes, I suppose we did like Easter, but we never learned about any magic bunny.

Just like Santa Clause. I never grew up thinking some round, jolly man made it all the way around the world in just one night to deliver presents to all the boys and girls. I just knew that on Chanukah, I got presents for 8 nights in a row, and that was magic enough for me!

I must admit, though, that I LOVE perpetuating the Santa Clause myth for my kids. I have so much fun doing it, and I know that one day they will tell me that Santa doesn't exist. I DREAD that day!

But what is it like for the kids? Is it some horrible realization that their parents have been lying to them all their lives? That there really is no magic in the world? No Santa Clause? No Easter Bunny? Or by the time they learn of the truth, is it no big deal to them? Surely, somebody at school will tell them this terrible truth soon. After all, they will be in 3rd grade next year. And many of their friends have older siblings.

And speaking of older siblings, how is that my kids have none, yet know ALL of the cuss words already? How can 8 year old boys know this? I didn't learn any bad words until about 5th grade. I can't stand it that their precious little ears and mouths can hear, and worse, say, these words.

But I digress...

As long as my kids believe, I will go right along believing with them. And I will try to cushion the blow when they learn the truth. And I will tell them that there is still magic in the world, you just have to look for it a little harder. I see it every time I look into their eyes!

Karen