Metal Meredith

2005

I thought I would take time on my child’s 3rd Christmas to reflect on all of the memories I have of the day. This morning, at 8am, I was getting Vivienne, waking up Phil and taking my kid downstairs for her first coherent Christmas morning. She stopped on the stairs to check out what was under the tree and ran right over to her Crocodile game and Radio Control Car. We did stockings and she seemed to enjoy most of it. I am guessing as parents, it never seems like enough and you always want your kid to have that WOW! factor on Christmas morning. Last night I was worried that we didn’t have it, but this morning realized that although it was a small pile, she is a small person with smaller expectations.

I remember getting the Panda that I loved for so long. Its arms and legs moved and it was so soft. I remember painfully waiting for my uncle to take a shower after he woke up before my sister and I could go downstairs. If we walked back and forth between our rooms and my parents’ room, we could barley make out a few unwrapped items under the tree.

I remember being told to go get another trash bag from the utility room and finding a bike in there. Stockings with soap and candy and toys, presents with tags “From Santa”, Mom in her zip us blue robe, Dad is shorts and a tee shirt, both nursing their second cup of coffee by the time the frenzy was over. Dad was perpetually cleaning up wrapping and bows and there was Mom’s insistence that we ‘display’ all the gifts under the tree. Michelle would run upstairs after breakfast and try on all her new clothes, I would play with my toys or put stuff together.

We would sometimes split the holidays in Baltimore between my Mom and Dad’s parents. Spending Christmas morning wit Mom’s parents and then drudging over to Dad’s where we were always bored out of our minds unless the cousins were there. Later, if we were lucky, we were shuffled between 4 or five more houses. Each time we collected a few more silly gifts and kissed a few more perfume-y aunts and cologned uncles.

When Mom and Dad got divorced, Michelle and I spent our first Christmas between the two houses. Dad bought cookies and we went over that afternoon for some present opening and visiting. There were the cookies that had the texture (and frankly taste) of mortar. We scrunched up our noses and played along. Later, at Mom’s house, she had the same cookies and I remember the sadness and humor hitting me all at once. Being in two places that should have really been one, it was a difficult transition.

When Phil came along, he had never really celebrated before. We spent the morning at my Mom’s and I think he was a little overwhelmed at the sight of it all, much less the gifts he got even though he was the ‘new guy’. If you ask me, he was converted that very morning.

This year we opened gifts as a threesome in the morning. Dad and Nancy came over in the AM, Michelle stopped by as well. We opened gifts and had some coffeecake. Everyone left and now it’s quiet. Vivienne is playing with her toys and watching the Grinch (original cartoon version, thankyouverymuch.) Phil and I are both on our laptops; because we can’t go more than 5 hours without making sure the internet is still working. Later, we will pack up and head out to Mom’s house. We will open gifts, eat some dinner and make our way back home.

Vivienne has more than she can handle. So maybe Santa was smart not to bring her very much. We now see that less is more. I can (thankfully) put one more episode of Mom guilt behind me and know that Christmas is as special as you make it.

I hope everyone has a Happy Holiday and a Wonderful New Year!

Love,
Meredith, Phil and Vivienne