1 Mother 2 Another

I know, I know – it’s
mid-January and I’m talking about gifts from three weeks ago.
But as you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been a bit, well,
absent these past couple weeks – partly taking family time,
and partly dealing with household sickness and me being simply too
tired or preoccupied to write about said household illness.


So I’ve still got a few things to say about the holidays. And
if it makes you feel any better, it’s not just cyber-world
where I’m slacking: I still haven’t put my Christmas
decorations away.


Baby steps.

Anyway: Christmas gifts. This year was the
first time the girls were deeply involved in selecting their gifts
for friends and family, and I’ve never seen them so excited
on Christmas morning. About other people’s presents.


Maddie’s got a sign made out of her name up in her room, and
Cora’s wistfully coveted it out loud several times. So Maddie
called the babysitter who’d made it as a gift for Maddie and
custom-ordered one for Cora. They solemnly worked out a fee and
drop-off arrangements, and Maddie chortled with delight as she
wrapped it on Christmas eve. By the time Cora opened the gift,
Maddie was dancing around impatiently, about ready to jump in and
open the gift herself so she could see Cora’s face faster.


Did Cora love it? Of course. But I loved Maddie’s happiness
with it even more.


Cora bought Maddie a hex bug, something a school club was selling
last fall,which of course made it the Hot Property on campus. As
Cora wrapped it she only sighed ONE time, “Gee, I wish I was
getting one.”


Which is pretty great, for a five-year-old.


The girls helped with grandparents’ gifts, parent gifts, and
making presents for their friends (lip balm for everyone, but one
kind for Maddie’s posse and a different type for Cora’s
gang. To each her own, I say.) I watched their joy multiply
exponentially as thoughts slipped from each girl’s own
Christmas list to what she wanted to give to others, and for the
first time they really GOT it.


But my favorite gifts, I’m afraid, were the ones they gave
me.


Both girls gave me coupon books to Starbucks, a favorite
Mommy/daughter hang-out spot. I could see how excited each girl was
at the thought of one-on-one Mommy time, and I know they’re
both dreaming of a long, cozy afternoon there with a stack of books
and a favorite drink. (Which, by the way, is “kid’s
milk, whole, one pump of vanilla, one pump of chocolate,
please.” Yes, I know, ridiculously pretentious but also
insanely cute coming from a sweetly smiling five-year-old.)


Hands down, though, my favorite gift was a page of coupons Cora had
written herself. She’d come up with the idea, approached
Daddy, and helped him design them on the computer – then
hand-filled them in. Three coupons, and here’s what they say:


“This gift certificate entitles ‘Mommy’ to
‘hang owt at starbuks’”


And also:

“This gift certificate entitles ‘Mommy’ to
‘hang owt at half prise books’”


And finally:

“This gift certificate entitles ‘Mommy’ to
‘a snuggl a week’”


You know I’ll keep these forever. Best. Christmas. Gifts.
Ever.