My Brown Eyed Girl was so excited to show Santa her new dress and headband. Mr Blue Eyes looked very handsome in his new outfit as well. We arrived nice and early and ended up being the first in line to see Santa this year. It helped we knew an elf on the inside.
The energy level was high. Excitement in the the air. After all, Santa Clause was coming to town. Santa Clause! Santa Clause! Saaaanta!!! The excitement was oozing from my children as they ran around like wild turkeys. My Brown Eyed Girl twirling her new beautiful dress... showing all the waiting children and their parents her Barbie underwear. Note to Self: Make her wear leggings/tights/little shorts/something next time she wears this dress.
I began to perspire a bit. One can only calmly say, "Stop running.", "Settle down please.", "Please put your dress down. No one wants to see your underwear honey.", "Please watch where you are going.", "Calm down please.", "Can you please come stand by Mommy?" so many times with out completely losing it and looking like 'that mom.' It takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of focus to appear as the calm mother, completely in control of her children. Nothing getting under her skin. Totally laid back.
When in reality... I was on the verge of completely losing it and becoming that screaming-crazy-psycho-mother-who-can't-control-her-kids-and-ends-up-jerking-them-by-the-arm-kicking-and-screaming-all-the-way-to-the-car-cussing-wildly-as-she-opens-a-bottle-of-wine-she-keeps-in-the-trunk-for-emergencies-and-collapses-to-the-curb-and... Okay so maybe that's a little over the top.
However, you bet I flashed a few of those, "Do you want me to take you outside and whoop your butt?" looks that only a mother knows how to give. Of course, that look means nothing to either of my children. Deep inside it made me feel better, as I became more clammy and stressed and dreamed about finding a bottle of win in my car.
And then the elves announced he was here!
Santa AND Mrs. Clause - does anyone know what Mrs Clause's first name is? - made there way to their chairs.
Suddenly there was a shift in the stars. A change of the tides.
My beautiful, hyper children suddenly became silent statues. A hint of fear and anxiety in the air - theirs not mine. My anxiety came with the first viewing of Barbie.
Grandma asked if I wanted to let a few other kids go first.
Why bother. Let's just get this show in the road...
As my Brown Eyed Girl started to balk, I made the mistake of trying to pass Mr Blue Eyes off to Santa first.
Complete meltdown...
How about Mrs Clause Mr Blue Eyes?
That would be a "Hell NO!"
One down... redirecting my focus to my Brown Eyed Girl...
Looks like I get to be in the picture this year. Gather round let's get this over with. EVERYONE is watching...
My Brown Eyed Girl absolutely refused to sit on Santa's lap. It was an effort to even get her to stand anywhere near him.
This has to be a favorite. My Brown Eyed Girl's body language could not be more direct. "Santa, you are invading my personal space!" And well, Mr Blue Eyes is simply saying, "Stranger Danger!"
A Keeper.
One for the fridge.
I turned on my most loving Mommy tone and calmly coached my Brown Eyed Girl through it. Please let us get at least one semi decent photo...
Getting better.
Huston, we have a smile.
Cheese for the camera.
There was no hope for Mr Blue Eyes.
My Brown Eyed Girl did end up telling Santa what she wanted for Christmas. A "sparkle-eee horse-eee like Lucy has."
Because she finally did so well talking to Santa, Mrs Clause gave her a coloring book and a jingle bell.
That made it all worth it!
Two coloring books, two jingle bells and a couple of souvenir photographs later...
No comments:
Post a Comment