Waiting for Santa is such an experience! When I was little, I would wake up as early as possible, tiptoe downstairs in the dark, and look over the presents—counting how many we got and maybe giving one or two a careful shake. A lot of times, you could tell what they were. (Have you ever tried wrapping a tennis racket?) Then I’d head back upstairs and wake everyone else. We couldn’t open anything until the whole family was together.
Once I got older, waiting for Santa lost some of its glamour. The first year I was married, I bought gifts but couldn’t wait until Christmas to open them. We opened them early—and wow, was that a letdown on Christmas morning. It definitely taught me patience.
Another memory is the boys’ first Christmas. They were eight months old, not walking yet, and far too young to understand the concept. They enjoyed the wrapping paper and boxes more than the gifts themselves. I do recall a Jack-in-the-Box toy—I’m pretty sure it scared them more than it delighted them.
The next year, Christmas changed for me. I filed for divorce right after that holiday. I struggled through the pain and fear, working hard to keep the joy. After that, we shared the boys during the Christmas season. Santa came when they weren’t home—he stopped by and dropped off the presents. My Christmas was no longer a single day. I focused on the entire season instead, surrounding myself with decorations, music, and all my family.
Today, all the kids are grown with families of their own and creating their own traditions. It’s difficult to get everyone together at the same time. My boys live in Arizona; my stepdaughters are in Madison and Minneapolis; my stepson is in Vermont; and my granddaughters are in New York and Vermont. For now, it’s Steve and me. I don’t wait for Santa anymore, but I do savor the whole Christmas season.
Merry Christmas! Savor the memories you’re making.
Mary Guldan-Lindstrom, CPA