Preparations for Christmas have begun
We had only barely made it out of September before our youngest son announced he couldn’t wait for Christmas. In a clear statement about the levels of deprivation within which we, his parents, oblige him to live, he decided it was time to compose his Christmas list. “Compose away,” I thought to myself.
Getting in early is standard operating procedure for my son, and this is only the first of many steps which he takes before the enormous list is whittled down to his ultimate choices. His modus operandi is simple: he tests the waters with his most desired but, ultimately, most outlandish wish. This year’s opening bid is nothing less than a laptop; we laughed. With internet access; we laughed more.
I told him what we always tell our children: ask for whatever you would like, it is up to Santa, but don’t be disappointed if Santa thinks it’s as outrageous as we do and doesn’t bring anything at all. Doesn’t it make more sense to make a reasonable request and be somewhat assured that Santa will bring what you ask for?
At this point, he generally reconsiders and returns to the drawing board, this time a little less ambitiously and more in the real spirit of Christmas.
Netflix
Even though they don’t see a lot of television advertising thanks to our good friends at Netflix, our children are not immune to the impact of the commercial world and, if they are ever in any doubt as to what is cool, they have friends to remind them.
The latest recommendation from friends is to connect together over the internet and play online games together. It’s perfectly safe, our nine-year-old reassured me. There are safety protocols and blockers and other such securities. That’s funny, I think to myself, these kinds of protections used to be called ‘parents’!
I have no doubt our youngest child will soon be infected with Christmas mania as list writing tends to be somewhat contagious. This year, however, will be different; our eldest is at a crossroads.
He has finally acknowledged to himself that something about Christmas did not quite add up and earlier this summer he asked the ‘question’.
We bit the bullet and helped him take one of those big steps into the grown-up world. He wasn’t shocked or disappointed; he is a smart child and was ready for the transition, it was his parents who needed consolation.
Magic
And so we are left with the task of transforming him from participant to co-conspirator while attempting to keep the magic alive for him too. He is not an adult and to his siblings he is clearly still a child and, with a foot in both worlds, it is a vivid picture of how life will be for him as he negotiates his transition into a teenager-in-waiting. In the here and now however, he has embraced his new role with vigour. Rather like a quality controller at an ice-cream factory, he is happy to do his job while still being allowed to sample the merchandise.
He will make his list, too, and encourage his brother and sister to do likewise but he now appreciates the real joy to be gained in giving and not just receiving. He is playing his part faithfully, embracing his role as both believer and accomplice. He understands that, by taking his place in the wings of the Christmas performance, he may no longer be the star of the show but without him there would be no beautiful performance at all.