The Child Within (Dec 2012)

Is Christmas time and all sorts of movies are playing on TV. Does everybody else loves to sit and watch them as much I do? Some I have seen probably over a 100 times literally. It started when I was a child and then continue for the last 21 years as I have been raising my own children and will continue for many more since my youngest is only approaching her 2nd birthday. In a few years I imagine I will also become a grandmother which is a scary thought because my youngest will still be a child!!! LOL. I can just see it, going out with my children and grandchildren and people assuming they are all grandkids. Watching their jaw drop when one of my kids say, no, this is my mami and this are my nieces/nephews lol. Then again I have been told I don’t look old enough to have kids ages 21 and 19 so it would be equally funny to see peoples reaction that think they were all my kids when I tell them some are grandkids LOL But well, we are not there yet and I don’t expect to be there for a couple more years at least. But I digress.
I love watching the children being spell bound watching the old classics like How the Grinch stole Christmas, Frosty the Snowman, Jack Frost and all the others. There’s also the newer movies like the Santa Claus ones with Tim Allen. One of my favorite newer ones is the North Pole Express. I love its theme of growing up and loosing that innocence and illusion and finding it all over again. Do you hear the jingle bell? I do. Yes I am a big kid at heart.
Is great to make hot coco shock full of marshmallows with the kids, hear their laughter of anticipation and see their funny faces with their little foam mustaches. Everybody in their winter pj’s, cuddling up on the couch with their favorite character blankets over their laps. No matter how many times they have seen any given movie they always laugh, uhhhs and ahhhhs . It puts a smile on my face. This is what Christmas is really about, cherishing each other, spending time together, being a family. After all we are celebrating the birth of Jesus and his main message to us was love one another. As I write this I am watching Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with Johnny Depp. The grandfather tells Charlie, when he wants to sell the ticket to help the family with the money: “young man there is lots of money out there, they print more every day, but there are only 5 golden tickets in the world and there will never be any more” He wants him to experience this rare opportunity, to enjoy it, to live the moment with his grandfather who gave him his last coin to purchase a chocolate bar, why? Because he wanted his grandkid to have hope for something special, to be a kid . Many have lost what Christmas should be about, is not about gifts, is not about parties. Sure those are nice elements of Christmas but should not be the focus.

When our children grow up they will not remember what toy they got but they will remember snuggling with you, they will remember that you took the time to read them a Christmas book over and over, the fun they had baking cookies with you, making a popcorn strand for the tree, dancing together. Sometimes life gets tough, or busy and we forget to take a time out and be kids with our kids but when I think of my favorite memories none of them have to do with making a budget, or doing laundry, or a business meeting. My favorite memories are of Analise with a red glittery mouth because she tried to eat an apple ornament of the tree, Arturo and David jumping on my bed telling me to get up, Santa came, of Estrella, Noel and Analise covered in flour when we made ornaments out of home made “clay”. Coral finally figuring out how to rip off the wrapping paper and having so much fun doing it. Things like that are what makes my life extra special. Of course there are other things but this blog is about parenting after all.
So again I went off the theme of movies. You know going from one thing to another and then back again is a common side effect of motherhood. At least for me lol Seems that when you have gone for years starting to do something and then being interrupted by a crying baby, a thirsty child, a boo boo that needs a kiss, a fight that needs a referee , a homework question and the list goes on and on. And by the time you are done you forgot what you were doing, see something else that needs to get done, get working on that, get interrupted again….what was I saying? lol You get my drift
Oh yes, Christmas movies. I love them all, the kiddy ones and the classics, the tear jerkers . I know most children do not like watching the ones like It’s a wonderful Life and the likes. And that’s alright. If you have a partner is nice time to watch them after the kids go to bed and enjoy some adult time. All parents need some time to relax and not be “on duty”. I do not have someone at the moment but that’s ok, I still enjoy watching them by myself and there’s nobody around to see me get all sentimental and cry lol Or watching with a friend that is as much a silly goof as me. Either way is a great way to end the evening. Add some coffee or an adult drink of choice, put your feet up and we are in business.