Yay, I’m getting better!
10 December 2009
What could be better than the first snow of the season happening while we were decorating our Christmas tree last night? What a great time of year. Particularly if you don’t need to drive anywhere.
Decorating the tree definitely provided one of those life moments where I’m looking around thinking, “Okay … this isn’t exactly how I pictured this going.” We’d done everything we could to set the perfect family Christmas memory in motion—Manheim Steamroller on the stereo, homemade eggnog in chilled glasses, and lots of upbeat conversation with McKenna about decorating the tree.
I was smart enough to know McKenna wouldn’t enjoy 30 minutes of tree decorating, but I thought she might like one or two. Instead, 20 seconds into it, when McKenna learned that she wasn’t allowed to play with any of the ornaments, she abandoned the cause and went back to her toys. Then about ten minutes later, I had a major pregnancy moment where I was like, “Okay … I’m suddenly really tired. I’ve got to sit down.” So then it was Ben decorating the tree by himself, me sprawled out on the floor, and McKenna playing the piano too loudly for us to even hear the Christmas music.
I’m not a flexible person. At all. But during the tree decorating last night, as I was trying to determine if 8:00 was too early for bed, it occurred to me that about a year ago, this was a scene that would have sent me into tears. Here I had in my mind what a perfect evening it was going to be, and then even I didn’t have the energy to see it through. But instead of crying or being frustrated, I just went with it. (Fatigue might have helped.)
I’m always grateful for those kinds of moments, where you get a glimpse at how you’ve grown. Particularly in an area where you never thought you’d be able to change. So while we didn’t make the scrapbook memory I thought we would, it was still a very satisfying night.
Hope everyone has a great day!
Comments
You had a Shrek the Halls kind of moment! LOL
It is good to see progress, isn’t it?
Posted by Erica Vetsch on 10 December 2009
Oh, my this sounds so familiar. I remember many scenes like this when my girls were little- it somehow was always different than what I pictured in my head. Still have good memories, even if we didn’t show up in a Hallmark commercial!
Posted by Debbie McCool on 11 December 2009
Try having a husband who’s a bit of a scrooge!I think the most help I’ve ever gotten from him on the tree is putting on the lights and the topper. Otherwise, he always seems to have more pressing things to do . . . but Xoe helped me the whole time this year! Rowyn—well, he played with an empty box for most of the time, which was perfect. =)
Good for you, being flexible!
Posted by Roseanna White on 10 December 2009