Kids and Christmas

The aspect of Christmas that I enjoyed most this year surprised me. I have eight wonderful nieces and nephews that range in age from 2 to 9. It's been fun to watch them tear into boxes over the years but this year was so enjoyable for me. Several of them received a gift that they were extremely excited about and the expressions on their faces and a Christmas twinkle in their eyes was almost magical this year.

It took several minutes for my nephew to pick his jaw up after the shock of receiving a much wished for air hockey table from a set of his godparents (my brother and sister-in-law). One niece was absolutely surprised to unwrap a sewing machine from my parents, my husband and me. Still others found enjoyment in a suitcase, a very anticipated American Girl doll and a new lamp for a redecorated room.

The magic of watching someone open a very special gift continued as my mother opened an American Girl doll given to her from her eight grandchildren. The Elizabeth doll, picked for the same name as my mom, is the first doll my mom has had since my family had a house fire in the late 1960s and she lost a china doll that she had as a child. She was completely surprised and the gift has so much meaning for her.

This Christmas I discovered that I must not be one of the kids anymore as my gifts were very nice but not what I most appreciated. Instead I loved the feelings that watching these youngsters (and even one adult) tear into their gifts evoked inside me.