Well, the hype and stress of the holiday are over. I’m happy to say that Christmas Day, while not picture perfect, was a VAST improvement over years past and did not meet my (negative) expectations.
We opted to skip the large family gathering on Christmas Eve this year and instead spent time together as a family at home. The kids were super excited, of course, so we let them stay up a little late and get a bit more of the energy out. Then we took some time and acted out the nativity (a short, simplified version which better fit the attention span of our actors). Following the nativity, I shared my testimony of Christ and the meaning of Christmas and the Atonement with the kids and Kimball did the same. Then it was time to set out cookies and milk for Santa, have a short talk with the kids about what time they were allowed to come down in the morning (8:30 – they did well and didn’t come down until 8:15), and off to bed.
Of course the obligatory late night was in store for me, but I did manage to finish EVERY gift (though just barely!!!) before crashing that night around 1:30 (early for Christmas Eve – I know!!!).
Cue Christmas morning, and things really went well. The kids waited for us to get up (unlike Easter when the whole thing was over before Kimball and I were even up) before opening their gifts and stockings from Santa. We had a quick breakfast and got dressed and then opened presents from the family. It only took about an hour this year which was a change made in an attempt to keep the stimulation to a minimum. Erica only complained of being too bored twice, and nobody fought over whose turn it was to open a present. Erica was sorely disappointed that she did not receive an American Girl doll, but she held herself together pretty well and tried to be thankful for the gifts she did receive. There was a little griping (from Isaac) about the small number of gifts this year (again part of the attempt at less stimulation and overload) and a little emotion over not having a turn as often as other people (from Cambria), but overall the whole thing went of very well this year.
Christmas Day at church was mostly music this year. Erica sang in a group number, Kimball accompanied another piece with his guitar, I accompanied two pieces on the piano, and I sang in a women’s octet. Erica was on edge from the stimulation and disappointment from the morning so when she passed me to sit down after her musical number, she growled and swatted at me when I complimented her on her singing. Should have known better than to do that, but I still try to compliment her every time anyway. It’s frustrating not to know when it is okay to tell her I’m proud of her and when it will cause more harm than good. But by the end of the meeting, she had calmed down quite a bit and was mostly pleasant for the bulk of the afternoon.
Grandma came over for a while after church and the kids got to open her gift to our family. They got a kick out of it and that helped moods as well. Evening came and I prepared Christmas dinner with a nicely laid table of china and candles. Thanks to my mom, we had ham and three sides for dinner on Christmas, all which simply required warming. The kids seemed to really enjoy eating by candlelight and using the nice dishes. We taught them a bit about how to use a cloth napkin and hold a goblet. Always a fun experience to watch them learn.
I was so amazed and grateful to make it to the end of the day without a major meltdown. I had prepared myself for it, and it never came. It threatened several times, and I’m not positive it isn’t still in the near future, but for now I’m enjoying the fact that it didn’t happen. We’ll see what the week brings. Erica holds it in so much and then it all explodes. I was certain the American Girl doll issue would have been enough to throw her over the edge, but we had a talk about it today and came to an agreement: she will earn 1/3 of the cost and I will pay the rest. She is on a mission to earn $44 and she made some good progress today ($4). I’m hopeful she will take better care of it if she has to invest her own hard-earned (or -saved) money to get it, but of course only time will tell if that is the case.
All in all, Christmas was the best we’ve had in years. I’m so thankful to an understanding family who allowed us to back out of a gathering and to my wonderful husband for the blessing he gave me Christmas morning. And most especially, I’m thankful to my Heavenly Father for the extra measure of patience and understanding I received this Christmas season. Little by little, I am learning how to take care of my daughter the way she needs.
