It is the holiday season. There is gift-giving and trinket-swapping all around. For the first time in five years, I participated in Secret Santa at work. It is such a warm feeling to look in your mailbox or walk into your office to discover a small gift waiting for you. In some cases, there are things you really need. I've been meaning to stop by the feed store to pick up a new package of gardening gloves. These kids are always using mine, and I hate it. They never put them back where they belong, and they seemingly feel different when I slide them on after someone else has worn them. So, I buy a pack of 10 for the kids, and I have my own to tuck away. So.....I haven't had time to stop by the store, but my Secret Santa managed to eek out a few minutes to stop by a local retailer to pick up not one, but two brand new Mommy-sized gloves with cute little flowers on them! Just what I needed. Now I can throw away the two pairs I have been hanging onto. Each has at least three holes where my fingers poke through while I'm working. Totally pointless, right? Back to the story. My eleven-year-old participated in a Secret Santa gift-exchange with her classmates. The only difference between hers and mine is that middle schoolers cannot keep secrets. Each of them revealed themselves before they were even dismissed from class that day. With all the week's deadlines and activities, I had been burning the candles at both ends. Kids had to be dropped off and picked up from schools activities. I had meetings at work all week. There were last-minute craft projects to complete just in time for Christmas. My lack of sleep brought on a series of tremendous headaches, so I couldn't go to the store to help my daughter pick up a gift for her classmate. Normally, my kids bug me repeatedly when they need something, and they can't get cooperation from the adults in their lives. Ironically, my daughter had compassion. Instead of repeatedly asking about the store visit, she disappeared into her room after asking me to assist with cutting a few rectangles for her. She came out thirty-five minutes later with the cutest little wristlet. It's not perfect, but it was the greatest gift in the whole class, she said. Several of her friends were upset that she didn't make more. But she only had one secret pal. What a lucky little friend. I am pleased to know that we are raising creative, problem-solvers.
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AuthorI'm a wife, mother, daughter, educator, writer and hobby farmer. Welcome to my world of simply living. Archives
December 2023
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