I tell my kids that Christmas is coming.
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They take it really well.
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Then, they immediately want candy.
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But I don't have any, because I ate it all immediately after buying it. They take that well, too.
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So, I tell them perhaps Santa will bring some, but only if they stop yelling. That works for five hot seconds and I take that well. Thirty more days until Christmas.
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It starts to snow, and my kids are pretty happy about that.
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But then, I actually take them out into the winter wonderland …
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And two seconds later in the snow …
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Which, is fine, because this is how I feel about winter:
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So, we go inside for cookies. And when they hear the word cookies …
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During the days before Christmas, my kids play together.
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They eat candy.
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I try to parent and stop them from eating candy.
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Then, I just give up with parenting and watch them.
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They make me Christmas lists with things like "all da blue toys" and "escalators" on them.
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Sometimes I take them to the store, where they ask for things, and I gear up to say "No." All the people there without their kids smile like they know just what is going to happen …
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And yeah, it does happen.
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Pretty soon it's Christmas Eve and this is how my kids feel.
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And this is how I feel.
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But they are always so happy and I feel pretty powerful.
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Until the inevitable meltdown.
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But once it's all over, my husband and I have some bonding time.
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Or more like …
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