The countdown to Christmas

“20 days till Christmas, Mom!” “Hey Mom, guess what, only 19 days till Christmas!!” “I can’t wait, Mom!” “I’m so excited for Christmas, Mom!!” “Can we go Christmas shopping after school, Mom?” Ahhhhhhhh! OKAY, I got it!! Thanks for the cheerful daily, reminder, Sweetheart!

Every morning on the way to school, I’m updated on exactly how many days, hours, minutes and seconds it is until December 25th. My youngest has installed a Santa app on her phone so she knows, and can remind me obviously, how much time is left until Christmas morning. She can even follow the reindeer’s path and chat with Santa if she wants. And to think that when I was her age, I had to write a letter to him and stare at the sky on Christmas Eve hoping to catch a glimpse of Rudolph’s nose.

Anyway, now she tells me that Christmas is 18 days away! I wonder if she’s noticed yet that I’m nowhere near as excited as her? Believe me, I’m trying, but every one of her reminders reminds me that I have not finished my shopping, not wrapped a single gift, not baked a single cookie and haven’t even thought twice about a Christmas card. I’ve been trying to find time to get into the spirit since November. Been listening to all kinds of different singers belt out their own renditions of Christmas carols and been catching every classic Christmas movie showing on tv. And the decorations have been up since after Thanksgiving. But actually doing the leg work of Christmas, not so much.

I mean I love how excited she is and it makes me sad that I stress about the gifts and baking and stuff. I wish I was like her and counting the days till school is out, praying that it will snow and hoping I get the one gift I really, really, really want! I was there once and I loved those times! Christmas was one of the best things about being a kid. But I need more time!!

I was complaining about it recently and someone asked me why I was letting me stress me out, and why I bothered with certain traditions like one small gift on Christmas Eve after a nice dinner, or baking for neighbors, or wrapping things instead of gift bags. I thought, “Well, cause my kids look forward to it and that’s what we do. Plus if I don’t do it, no one else will.” All this rigmarole may take some work, but it means Christmas has come in our house so there’s no getting out of it.

So basically, I have 18 days to punch out Christmas 2017 so I better make a pot a coffee and get to crackin! I have a little of 2 weeks to buy some meaningful gifts, wrap them all, send out a few cards, and bake up so ...