What, you expected a new header and a new post?  You're crazy!  ;)

The Santa Squabbles

My husband and I are in agreement about how to raise our children 98% of the time.  But around this time of year, we can’t quite seem to agree on two things.  The first is Santa.  If the big jolly guy knew how often he was debated in this house, he would be embarrassed!  We both agree that the focus on Santa and gifts should NOT be the focus of Christmas.  We talk about the true meaning of Christmas, make a birthday cake for Jesus, pray as a family, and try to spend nice quality time together.  If we home schooled, we feel that we could shield our children from the knowledge of Santa, at least tone it down a bit.  But since they attend school, they hear about him constantly.  Hey are told that He is watching, that he will literally come down their chimneys, that the teachers have a special phone number to let Santa know who’s been naughty or nice…and on and on. 

Now, as a child, I believed in Santa.  I remember the excitement and almost tangible joy in the air around Christmas time.  My dad used to call the North Pole so we could listen to the elves working (it was the operator playing Christmas music!) and we would leave cookies out for Santa and carrots out for the reindeer.  It was a truly magical time of the year.  But then, on the first day of second grade, Sarah Grimes told me there was no such thing as Santa.  I was beyond devastated.  Devastated that my dreams were crushed, and even more hurt that my parents lied to me. 

Phil, being a high school teacher, hears countless stories from kids who were traumatized when they found out Santa wasn’t real, and he doesn’t want our kids to go through that.  We have tried to say that Santa is a story, just like Snow White or Hansel & Gretel, but the kids want more details.  Andrew in particular asks us outright if Santa is real.  We just ask him what he thinks, and play it off as best we can.  The parenting part we disagree on is that I think talking about Santa should be encouraged.  He represents hope and faith and joy, and I can’t imagine not believing as a child.  Phil wants to let them know that Santa doesn’t exist to spare them years of being lied to. 

                The second Christmastime argument we have is about the kid’s wish list.  In the spirit of making dreams come true, I would love to get the kids one thing from their wish list.  Unfortunately, this year all the boys want a Nintendo DS.  And they are very expensive!  I think John-Paul  and even Andrew are old enough to enjoy them, but Eamon is too young right now.  We recently received  gift cards to spend on Christmas gifts for the kids, and we could afford to buy two DS’s with them.  My guilty (full-time worker’s) mother’s heart wants to splurge and give them what they want.  Remember when you were a kid, and there was a present you wanted so badly?  And then you woke up on Christmas morning to find it!  Oh the thrill!  I would love to do that for my kids.  But, Phil thinks we shouldn’t give them what they want because then they will just want the next best thing.  He thinks it’s too materialistic of them to want a DS.  I don’t want to spoil our kids (except with love) but I also don’t think getting what you want for Christmas will turn a kid “bad”. 

I do want to point out that I love my husband and really respect his opinions, and in the end I usually find out he was right!  But I'm just not there yet ;) 

 So opinions are wanted!  What do you think about spreading the Santa stories and giving kids exactly what they want from their wish lists?

So, to answer a few questions:

1)      How am I feeling?

Actually, I am feeling so much better this time around than I have previously.  I’m not sure if it’s just because I am earlier in the pregnancy than I think (more on that later) or because of the routine I have been doing to minimize sickness. 

The routine includes:

~Eating breakfast in bed and then waiting as long as possible before getting up (which is hard to do when I have to get myself and all the kids out of the house by 6:45)

~Wearing these bands around my wrists:

They REALLY help, and I'll do anything I can to avoid taking drugs while pregnant.

~Eating all day long, a mix of carbs, protein and fats (I know it’s not the healthiest, but fatty foods make me feel better – think muffins, cheeseburgers, and croissants)

~Sleeping as much as possible (usually falling asleep on the couch around 8)

~Continuing to exercise.  Some days all I can muster up the energy for is a 45 minute walk on my lunch break, but when I feel great I run or elliptical or bike.

~Changing to a new prenatal vitamin.   I’ve never had a problem taking pre-natals, but I ran out of my old ones and picked up some new ones, and they seem great.

2)      How will this affect my new job?

That is undecided at the moment.  I just told my boss today and she took it very well.  It probably helped that I was crying when I told her...makes for a more sympathetic ear!  I do not want to be working full-time after the baby comes, so it’s probably a matter of when I can afford to leave and when they want me to leave.

3)      What is the exact due date?

We’re not sure.  We’re going to have an ultrasound done on December 29^th to find out.  I was so stressed about leaving my old jobs and starting this new job that things were a bit off-kilter.  Of course, that was good news for the conception of this baby!  I’m most excited about finding out how many babies are in there because everyone keeps talking about twins around us, and is it possible that I’m already showing???

4)      How are the kids taking the news?

They are beyond excited!  After they got over the initial shock and disbelief (Andrew kept saying we were just trickin’ them!) they moved right into celebratory mode.  They talk about how “We’re having a baby in July” and they’ve already picked out names:  Sarah for a girl and Patrick for a boy.  They keep saying that we are going to have SEVEN people in our family, and that is so big and so fun!  I love how kids are just instinctively pro-life J

The Best Christmas Gift Ever!!!

It's a little early, but we are too excited to keep this news bottled up any longer. 

Are you ready?

You sure?

Here goes...

Martin Baby # 5 due July, 2011

(and we couldn't be any happier!)

Hi Lo: December 10th

HI's:

1) Giving to charity makes me feel so good!  Each of the kid’s classrooms has it’s own charity for Christmas time.  Andrew’s class is collecting baby clothing and items, John-Paul’s class is filling backpacks with school supplies and hats and gloves, and Eamon & Maggie’s class is helping out children in need with the specific gifts they have asked for.  Sometimes when I am feeling sorry for myself, I think that we are a family in need, but then I get these reminders that there are so many families in much worse shape than we are, and I am more than happy to help them out.  These kids are asking for warm clothes, diapers and supermarket gift cards…they need the basic necessities of life, not the newest electronic gadget, and isn’t that the least we can give them?

2)   Phil and I got to go to a Christmas party at the kid’s school (because I do the accounting work for them) and it was very nice.  Good food and great people!

3)   John-Paul has been such a good boy lately.  I don’t know if it was the First Penance that made him more conscious of his good/bad deeds, or just because it’s Advent, but he has been exceptionally good.  We expect a lot out of that kid, and he has been giving even more J  The other morning, I went down to start the car before school, and John-Paul came with me and opened up the door on the other side of the car.  I asked him what he was doing, and he said he always opens the door for the little kids because they need help, then he opens his door.  So sweet!

LO's:

1)   I'm having a hard time adjusting to this new job.
(Disclaimer: I know I am lucky to have a job at all!)

How were your weeks?  Ready for Christmas yet?

Eamon the Wii Little Jumping Bean