I have pneumonia.
The kids and the husband have all been sick too.
And the last several weeks we’ve combined our family superpowers to create the holiday schedule from the netherworld.
Doctor appointments, traveling, work, school, exams, projects, more work…
All culminating in a week of nightly 5-hour Christmas ballet rehearsals which went out with a 72-hour Christmas ballet extravaganza bang involving four performances from our resident 9-year-old aspiring prima ballerina.
I missed her last performance due to an urgent care visit and previously mentioned diagnosis of pneumonia.
Somewhere in the middle of all this, my Chrismas Spirit has gone AWOL.
Not so for the kids.
The kid’s Christmas Spirit showed up mid-September when all the department stores started sneaking Christmas items into the aisle next to the school supplies.
They have clung to it with mind-numbing tenacity ever since.
“How many more days until Christmas, Mommy?”
“When are we gonna get the tree, Mommy?”
“When are we gonna bring it out of the garage?”
“When will we put the lights on?”
“Are we ever gonna have a Christmas tree before Christmas is over, Mommy?”
Ad infinitum.
But by mid-morning all that had happened in the Christmas tree department was that our over-laden coat rack had been moved out of the entryway into the middle of the living room floor to make way for the Christmas tree to be brought up the stairs.
Don’t laugh at my piled-high coat rack.
I know you have one just like it or a closet that is just as bad if not worse.
At least that’s what I console myself with when I’m trying to get to sleep at night.
If you have an immaculate entryway be-decked and festooned like a Martha Stewart Living cover, just keep it to yourself for now, K?
Two sips into my morning coffee and the Christmas tree interrogation began again…
“Can we bring in the tree now, Mommy?”
“Now?”
“How ’bout now?”
Oh, and did I mention that our Christmas tree stand was no where to be found?
I couldn’t take it anymore.
I hacked and coughed my way to the downstairs closet, pulled out a string of lights, snipped out a yellow paper star and in two minutes had the coat rack… umm, coat TREE decked out and standing at the top of the stairs while the kids looked on with mouths agape.
“That’s NOT a Christmas Treeeeeeeeeee!!!” The youngest howled.
“It’s not even a tree at ALL!!!” The eldest chimed in.
I promptly Googled Coat Tree to prove that they were mistaken…
They sulked while I sipped my coffee in the first bit of quiet I had known in weeks.
They sat at the base of the coat rack Christmas tree in bewildered, scowling silence.
“This is going to be the worst Christmas ever,” mumbled the youngest.
“Yeah,” agreed the eldest. “Just think how dumb presents are going to look under this thing.”
And then something magical happened.
I laughed for the first time in days.
A fit of coughing ensued.
Maybe my Christmas Spirit really is still in there somewhere.
Ah, yes. There it is…
It’s last year’s picture, but we’ll get there.
Eventually.
parenting children motherhood kids SAHM
Oh, my word, Michelle! I shouldn’t laugh, but you always have a way of making me laugh even when you’re having a tough go of it. Hope you are all feeling better soon with intact and fully functional Christmas Spirits. Thanks for helping me find mine!
December 13th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
oh girlfriend….I’m right there with you. Trying to find my holiday mojo……ugh
December 15th, 2011 at 10:47 am
Cough-soothing, lung-healing Merry Christmas wishes!
Agreed. You’ll get there.
December 16th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Personally, I find the coat tree hilarious — I can just imagine the dismayed little faces. Just think what a fabulous story that will make for them in the years to come. Classic. At least you didn’t serve them Frozen Turkey Flambe for lunch.
December 17th, 2011 at 12:42 am
I am cracking up picturing your kiddos sitting in front of the coat tree complaining about it, lol.
Tree or not, I hope your family had a joyful Christmas and wish ya’ll a very happy new year! (and hope you’re all feeling better too)
December 26th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
Hi, my name is Heather! Please email me when you can, I have a question about your blog ?
HeatherVonSJ[at]gmail[dot]com
December 27th, 2011 at 9:29 am
somehow I missed this till today. Hilarious,yet I know the feeling. Along similar vein trying to appease howling,supposedly starving kids and gain a moments peace,I quickly tried to heat up frozen cooked turkey. As they howled I yanked the turkey from the skillet,seems like it was charred & perhaps flaming,plopped the still solidly frozen ‘tidbit” onto a plate ,with a loud here’s your dinner.(kids each old & skilled enough to cook a complete dinner let alone feed their own selves) The howls stopped shifting to complaints & possible abuse..they all grew up into wonderful adults despite such “horrors”. Thankfully such has a way of turning into great bonding. Grown ,kinds now roll on the floor with laughter as they haunt me with such memories. I wish I could assure you someday this will all be worth the struggles,pain & bouts of howling. A hug from my heart to yours. May your family get well & strong soon and remain there.
January 11th, 2012 at 1:21 pm
I love the coat rack Christmas Tree! Also love the cute pj’s your daughter is wearing under the real tree! Hope you’re feeling much better by now!
February 20th, 2012 at 12:17 pm
I’m rather fond of the decorated coat tree. I may try to get by with something like that this coming Christmas
April 7th, 2012 at 11:25 am
I just wanted to say that I am not often a commenter, but I have been a reader here for a long time. I miss getting to hear about your adventures and hope we get to read your wonderful stories here again! I miss you!
April 22nd, 2012 at 6:01 pm
See the kids are very smart it is not easy to cheat them. They are not ready to accept anything without proof. Time has changed.
April 27th, 2012 at 6:09 pm