So it’s two years ago and the beginning of December.  I’m having a conversation with a friend about Christmas gifts for the kids.  What does yours want?; what are you getting them?; etc.  One of the things my middle guy, Charlie, wanted was a huge remote control dinosaur.  One of those toys that is too big to store anywhere, almost too young for him and should have a disclaimer on the box that says ‘the kids will love this for three days max – ha!’  Throw in that it would have been his big ticket item, and I was not sold.  I was not getting it for him.  My almost horror-stricken friend tried to convince me to get it.  It was Christmas after all.  Well, maybe I’m old school – but he hadn’t been that good that year.  Coal had crossed my mind more than once.  But a hard lesson wasn’t the road I was taking this year.  I’d gotten him tons of great stuff already.  The show stopper being a six foot remote control race track.  Santa was coming in full force as it was, what was one omission? 

Repeat the same conversation with two acquaintances and I was starting to give this some serious reflection.  Am I the only one who doesn’t get them everything just on principal?  A few good friends dispelled some of my worry, but it didn’t end there.

A week later I’m carpooling and ask the little girl I’m driving, “What are you asking Santa for this year?” Her reply was that she was getting a very specific kind of new bike.  “I’m getting” the key phrase.  So I ask, “You mean that’s what you’re asking for?”

 “Nope, that’s what I’m getting”. 

Me: “Oh, are your grandparent’s getting it for you?” (they are notoriously big spenders). 

“No.  Santa’s getting it for me.  I always get what I want,” she said, her tone implying that I was slightly crazy for pressing the issue.  And she was right.  I’d been there Christmas afternoon.  The haul at their house was borderline absurd.  I couldn’t imagine that they would even want half the stuff they got.  It was a myriad of crappy commercials aimed towards kids in every direction I looked.  At one point I wondered if they had secretly adopted more kids because a few things were so out of place in the home of two young girls it was weird.  They must have had to throw out every pre-holiday toy to fit the shiny, new bounty in their house.

So why do I care?  Let their kids be a little greedy and lack the dreams some of us are made of.  I care because I like this kid.  She may be on the wrong path, but she has potential.  It was just the way she said the things she said that day in the car.  The way this little seven year old, on the edge of leaving the magic of Santa behind, had no excited anticipation.  No hoping, wishing, planning, praying.  Just a fact of the matter response.  She still believed in Santa, but I’m not sure who her Santa is?  My Santa watches all year, he puts in the time.  He cares if you’re naughty or nice – if you’re a good person.  He makes an extra special note if you’ve been exceptional, and rewards one of your dreamy wishes.  –Even if it does come in the form of a factory made Barbie doll.  It was the one you ached for! 

So back to my soul searching and reflection….

I still wish I could believe in Santa.  Those were the days!  And I certainly think a big part of the magic is the not knowing.  If you were good enough, lucky enough, wished hard enough.  -If kicking your brother under the table last week tipped the scales!  Look, I’m actually not judging.  Just wishing more tiny people were fortunate enough to carry the thrill and the wonder not of the haul, but of the magic of Christmas.  It’s such a short window of time when they really believe.

So I’m not saying my house isn’t overwhelmed with the latest and greatest on Christmas morning.  I never seem to keep myself completely in check.  But I’m just thinking, and hoping you are too, that some of the magic and appreciation in what we get comes from what we don’t always get.  In the anticipation of what might happen.

 I am wishing everyone a wonderful holiday filled with twinkling lights, homemade cookies, family memories and as many “how did he know”-s as you can possibly get.

Happy Holidays!!

By Emily Loverin

Emily Loverin is our creative go-to-girl.  Her column Everything-Emily incorporates projects from fine arts to crafts and always keeps even the smallest designers in mind.  She is a Scituate native where she currently lives with her husband Marc, and their three children Addison, Charlie and Jake.  Visit EVERYTHING EMILY to learn more about her services, featuring full service interior design, planning of events, house staging, mural painting, invitations & graphic design.