without question
I just spent another late night continuing the myths of childhood. This time it was Easter, but i've found they all follow the same basic gameplan - kids spend a few days fantasizing about what that special holiday deity will bring them; parents worry that they've bought too much stuff, or too little; the night before, the kids go to bed too late, the parents stumble around bleery-eyed trying to make it look like something special happened while everyone was sleeping; the next morning the kids wake up (too early) and are overjoyed as they tear through the house looking at all the neat stuff. After a cup of coffee, we can enjoy a bit of it as well. I like the tradition and routine of it, that's the best thing about it.
I guess the part that itches away at me is that my son holds onto the myth, keeps on believing, despite the fact that he questions every other teeny-tiny thing life throws at him. For whatever reason, holiday spirits are not to be scrutinized. Anything else, and he debates it to death... we pass by an apartment building located next to a harbor, called the Harbor Bell... "I don't see a bell. Where's the bell?" If i say something like "Nothing's impossible," he always has to counter with something... "Breathing without oxygen is..." I realize it's just a phase in his development, but it's driving me nuts. He's too much like me, so go figure. With the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus though, he's still a true believer and doesn't dare to question, for fear they would disappear.
Reminds me of religion.
,
I guess the part that itches away at me is that my son holds onto the myth, keeps on believing, despite the fact that he questions every other teeny-tiny thing life throws at him. For whatever reason, holiday spirits are not to be scrutinized. Anything else, and he debates it to death... we pass by an apartment building located next to a harbor, called the Harbor Bell... "I don't see a bell. Where's the bell?" If i say something like "Nothing's impossible," he always has to counter with something... "Breathing without oxygen is..." I realize it's just a phase in his development, but it's driving me nuts. He's too much like me, so go figure. With the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus though, he's still a true believer and doesn't dare to question, for fear they would disappear.
Reminds me of religion.
,
posted by joe @ 1:06 AM
2 comments
Ah yes, this is my first year to finally not have to perform that ritual. I guess the past few years the stress of worrying (as you described) had begun to outweigh the magic of it all for me. (After 21 years, I suppose most everything loses its lustre...heheh) Santa still visited here this past Christmas, but the piles were smaller and the worrying was thankfully less. As for Easter, a week or two ago I started dropping hints to my youngest that perhaps the Easter bunny would not be bringing baskets full of goodies this year. (She just 'fessed up to not believing this past December, just after her 12th birthday). She gave me a sly wink and said, "Hey, just slip me a $20 and I'll be happy!" So that's exactly what I did (tucked neatly inside a box containing a chocolate bunny for each, that is). I figure I probably spend at least that much each year, in all my rushing around never feeling like I've done enough. The best part was that all three kids were just as pleased, and I got to bed at a decent hour for once. :)
Wait a minute. Are you suggesting that there is NO Easter Bunny?