I can't imagine a Christmas without kids. Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas are made special by those with wet diapers, no hair or teeth. And that's just the old fogies amongst us, the babies are even more entertaining.
At last year's Thanksgiving feast we had all sat down around three groaning tables and had our plates full when Everett's proud parents asked the newly turned three year old to say Grace. Everett was lifted up to a prominent position high above us, all chatter came to a standstill and during the most solemn moment on this day of Thanksgiving, a nervous and serious Everett opened his mouth and proceeded to sing the Happy Birthday Song! (Everett was just a little confused as to what holiday we were celebrating.) We all laughed and then joined Everett in singing happy birthday to the big Tom Turkey.
It would have been more fitting if Everett had waited until Christmas to deliver his very special Grace because Christmas is actually a birthday celebration. Those of us who were there will always remember Everett's birthday song, just as all of us need a reminder now and then that Christmas is not just an excuse to give and get gifts, to garishly decorate the house or to stuff ourselves with dressing and dessert.
As Everett reminded us, Christmas is just not Christmas without babies. It just wouldn't be Christmas if I went home at the end of the day with dry shoulders because there were no babies to spit up on them.
It's a very complicated formula but the proper ratio is three adults for every two babies in attendance. This ensures that there will be enough holding time for everyone. This usually holds true unless there's a much dreaded "baby hog" present like the one who usually shows up at all our holidays. That would be me.
No comments:
Post a Comment