Christmas is 6 months from today. No shopping
this afternoon, though. Each year on June 25th,
I surprise my kids with a Christmas celebration.
We pull out a few decorations & toys, drink hot
chocolate, decorate cookies with Christmas sprinkles
and watch Christmas movies. It’s a fun “tradition”
I hope they’ll always remember when they think of
summertime. Today it’s most ironic, because the
outside temp is a scorching 91 degrees (no scarf
necessary).
As we sit here watching “The Grinch,” I feel
like I should play him in the movie. Aside from my
green complexion and pot belly, I’ve been in THE WORST
mood all day. So un-Christmas of me. I had a HUGE
situation with one of my children this morning; a
HUGE behavioral issue that had to receive a HUGE consequence.
So, the kid is spending the afternoon in his room rather
than being part of the fun. I’m heartbroken, because he loves
Christmas – and everything that comes with it – more than
anyone I’ve ever known. He lives for getting out the decorations
and taking in all the joys of the Christmas season, so this would
have been an awesome day for him. When he found out what we were
doing downstairs, he was devastated. It’s funny how you think a
consequence will teach your children a serious lesson … But sometimes
their punishments become our own.
I have work to do tonight (that’s right, my evil, grinch-like streak is
far from over). The boy will be waking up to a letter from Santa Claus,
who, as we all know, can see how we’re behaving ALL YEAR LONG. Old Kris
Kringle is NOT going to have holly, jolly words for the young lad. Santa
could never be mean, but he can be “firm,”(keep it clean, folks), can’t he?
Maybe he’ll even mention coal …
Better luck in six months, Dude (and Mom!). Hopefully the REAL Christmas
will be a better experience than it’s half-birthday. Happy Ho, Ho, Ho to me…
The World of Author/Mom Alicia Murphy! 
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