Boy, do I have it easy this year — Christmas-wise, I mean.
I can take the baby shopping for his bounty from Santa and he will be none the wiser come Dec. 25. But I know my days are numbered and that, much like a dazzling present under the tree, this experience is a once-in-a-lifetime gift to me.
As my husband and I snaked through the aisles of the local Toys R Us store recently, hunting for age-appropriate gifts, nothing short of the child apocalypse was unfolding before us.
Children were running up and down the aisles, weary parents were going through the motions to keep amped up tots under control, tykes were openly wailing throughout the store — after awhile it sort of became background music.
I’m beginning to understand that the most wonderful time of the year for a child is the most dreaded time for a parent. Between coordinating all the family and friend get-togethers, buying all the presents, cooking all the food and somehow managing to keep your child’s eating and sleeping schedule intact — lest we forget that daycare centers close for the holidays — it’s nothing short of a Christmas miracle that parents survive.
My plan of attack this year is to keep things simple. I established a window of time to accept invitations for events, but I will not schedule more than one event per day on a weekend — and everything is on a first-come, first-served basis. That way, there’s no hard feelings and it gives a sense of normalcy for the little one.
I want to work hard as to not overwhelm an 11-month-old with Christmas cheer. He is teething regularly and just had a third bout with a double ear infection, so the additional stress is unwarranted.
But that doesn’t mean the family is shut out. We will have my husband’s family Christmas party, where the extended family will gather for lunch. And my aunt will drive out from Detroit to spend Christmas with us and my husband’s parents. And meetings with friends are interspersed where this is time, but most of them understand the scheduling issues. After all, it’s been a year since I’ve been operating on the hours of 6-9 p.m. availability (but only with 48 hours notice so I can get a sitter). Sometimes I feel like a doctor’s office.
As my husband and I reached the checkout lane of the toy store, the clerk remarked at how well-behaved our son was.
“He’s taking notes from the others,” I said, motioning to the throng. “I’m counting my blessings before next year.”
— Sarah Leach is assistant managing editor for The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at (616) 546-4278 or sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com.
I can take the baby shopping for his bounty from Santa and he will be none the wiser come Dec. 25. But I know my days are numbered and that, much like a dazzling present under the tree, this experience is a once-in-a-lifetime gift to me.
As my husband and I snaked through the aisles of the local Toys R Us store recently, hunting for age-appropriate gifts, nothing short of the child apocalypse was unfolding before us.
Children were running up and down the aisles, weary parents were going through the motions to keep amped up tots under control, tykes were openly wailing throughout the store — after awhile it sort of became background music.
I’m beginning to understand that the most wonderful time of the year for a child is the most dreaded time for a parent. Between coordinating all the family and friend get-togethers, buying all the presents, cooking all the food and somehow managing to keep your child’s eating and sleeping schedule intact — lest we forget that daycare centers close for the holidays — it’s nothing short of a Christmas miracle that parents survive.
My plan of attack this year is to keep things simple. I established a window of time to accept invitations for events, but I will not schedule more than one event per day on a weekend — and everything is on a first-come, first-served basis. That way, there’s no hard feelings and it gives a sense of normalcy for the little one.
I want to work hard as to not overwhelm an 11-month-old with Christmas cheer. He is teething regularly and just had a third bout with a double ear infection, so the additional stress is unwarranted.
But that doesn’t mean the family is shut out. We will have my husband’s family Christmas party, where the extended family will gather for lunch. And my aunt will drive out from Detroit to spend Christmas with us and my husband’s parents. And meetings with friends are interspersed where this is time, but most of them understand the scheduling issues. After all, it’s been a year since I’ve been operating on the hours of 6-9 p.m. availability (but only with 48 hours notice so I can get a sitter). Sometimes I feel like a doctor’s office.
As my husband and I reached the checkout lane of the toy store, the clerk remarked at how well-behaved our son was.
“He’s taking notes from the others,” I said, motioning to the throng. “I’m counting my blessings before next year.”
— Sarah Leach is assistant managing editor for The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at (616) 546-4278 or sarah.leach@hollandsentinel.com.
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