Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I get my tree up as soon as December hits (ok so this year is was Nov 30), love the music, the baking, the friends and family, and much to my husbands chagrin even the crazy afternoon gift buying crowds at the malls! That was until I had kids…
Today when I realized I only had 2 diapers left for Bria (who has been telling me the past week the worst thing about her day has been having her bum changed and she would like big girl princess panties aka pull ups) I decided just to go out with the girls and get some groceries and do some shopping. I was hoping to be out of the house by 11am but it was noon before I was pulling out of the garage (but at least I have managed to shave 30 minutes off my getting ready time, now we are down to 1 hour instead of 90 minutes!).
We go to the grocery store and have a great time. It only took us an hour, the lines were manageable, Malia slept and Bria stayed in the cart the whole time! You ask any mom of a 2.5 year old and they will tell you that last one alone is the markings of a successful grocery shop. I even manage to score a big box of princess pull ups on sale! (BTW don’t worry I know I am nuts to even be thinking about starting to potty train a toddler while nursing a newborn).
I got everyone loaded back into the car and decided to head on over to Mill Woods Town Center so Bria could eat the lunch I packed and play in the indoor playground. Best free indoor playground in the city, if you are looking for a place to let you toddler burn off some energy this winter, plus they have very comfy chairs all around it, so it is perfect for a nursing mom. Bria plays for an hour or so very happily and I enjoy people watching while Malia snoozes in the carseat.
Then I decide I need to go into Hallmark to get a gift I have been searching for over the last few days. Well Bria is not pleased with this decision but I manage to convince her (ok bribe her) into coming with me for a bag of fruit snacks (bribery, also something I am becoming much more comfortable with now that I have two young children).
Hallmark, while a beautiful, wonderful, Christmasy store this time of year, is not a place, I quickly realize, to bring an active 2.5 year old with sticky fingers, a cranky 2 weeks old and a massive stroller (well actually my stroller did not seem massive to me until I was in the store, funny how that happens).
Hallelujah! They had the gift I was looking for but it was behind glass so I had to wait for a clerk to get it out and package it up. The entire time I am trying to nicely but sternly remind Bria that she cannot touch all the sparkly, shinny, breakable ornaments within her reach, explain that sadly mommy does not have any more purple fruit snacks but that the red ones taste good too, all while trying to calm down Malia who has decided that this is the opportune time to wake up and scream to the high Heavens.
After what seems like an hour we finally make our purchase and leave the store. But the nice mom in me has been replaced by the “mall mom”. You know the one I am talking about. The mom who is yelling at her screaming kid while she is dragging them by one arm and pushing the stroller with the other. While in the past I will admit to judging other “mall moms”, I have now promised myself to only have compassion and empathy for these poor poor women whose ranks I have joined.
So as I am dragging a screaming Bria in one arm and trying to push the stroller with a now hysterical Malia, I round the corner and see him, like a lighthouse guiding the sea captain home, Santa Clause. He stands their looking regal and elegant in his red and white suit, waving to me, beckoning me closer with a knowing look in his eye. And suddenly I realize Bria isn’t screaming anymore, she is smiling and almost skipping in delight. I let go of her hand and she almost flies to him, arms stretched out ready for a special hug that only a man of his ranks can give. And as she follows him to his royal throne I realize Malia is now contently gurgling in her car seat. I watch in awe struck wonder as my child, eyes glistening with hope and innocence listens intently as Santa tells her all about feeding his reindeer and then sweetly tells him she would like a purple kitty cat piano for Christmas and something “good” for her sister too.
Then as Santa goes to hand Bria a candy cane he glances up at me and says “I am sure the best Christmas present you could give your mommy right now is to be a nice little girl and be a helper just like my elves”. Bria gives me the biggest smile and says ” yes I love my mommy”! And in that moment all the screaming, sticky fingers, and frustrations melt away and are replaced by an overwhelming warmth in my heart and a new found belief that yes, there is a Santa Clause!
