We’re scaling down Christmas this year. Instead of a big, fat, full of gifts day, we’ve been playing with little gifts throughout the season. I grew up in Europe. Christmas is nothing but a blessing of advent calendars, three or four of them if you can, ready to be opened and loved every single morning.
Phillip has never experienced that. To him, Christmas is one day, one day only….and after lunch, Christmas is over.
So I was adamant that he know that particular sort of joy I had growing up as a kid in Europe, tugging at all of those beautiful traditions. (I remember putting my shoes outside our apartment when I was in third grade, waiting for St. Nicholas to leave me either candy or coal). You don’t have to wait until Christmas Day, you can give and gift (and happily receive!) and celebrate today.
So we were blessed with two advent calendars. One with chocolates, one with Funko Pops from the Marvel Universe.
Phillip asks, “So, how does this work again?”
“Well, you start with day one of advent. You open that window and enjoy your gift!”
He pops open the chocolate calendar first, unwraps a little foiled Santa and greedily mows down. “MMM! GOOD!”
Then, with suspicion, he reaches for the Funko. He cracks open window number one and pulls out a red wrapped little treasure. Ha! He’s so anxious he opens it with his teeth!
Plop onto the floor drops the most adorably detailed Groot you’ve ever seen. The both of us sat back with true admiration.
Phillip asks with beautiful wide, fantastic eyes, “And this is just day ONE???”
I smile and giggle and affirm.
He didn’t make it the 24 days. I couldn’t stop him, didn’t want to. He’d come home from work, soiled, tired. He’d shower, he’d eat, he’d rest on the couch and ask, “Do I really have to wait every day? I’d love to open another one….”
I’d cave. I’d done the same as a kid. I just didn’t have the patience. And besides, I loved watching his face fill with joy.
So, Phillip and I have ripped through our advent calendars.
We just couldn’t wait to celebrate. 🙂