December 24, 2015
I celebrate Christmas. And 2015 is the year that Nico and Christopher understand why there is an 8-foot tree in the house. The tree dons twinkling lights, colorful balls, and garland and is topped with Mickey Mouse waving a lighted lantern back and forth. A reference to guide Santa's slay to our tree.
Unfortunately, the two haven't quite grasped the religious significance of December 25, a date picked to celebrate our lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They only understand God when I say things like, "God no, Christopher, why did you do that?" Or, "No, Nico, for God's sake, stop climbing on there."
Now, before you lash out at their dad about how "I'm a bad parent," let me give you some more ammo to judge me for my boys not fully understating Christmas place in knowing God, Jesus, and birthrights. I blame the early indoctrination on TV. The commercials and Christmas specials, like The Peanuts or The Grinch or whatever, tend to make my kids think that Christmas gifts are as cool as the commercials and that I can be the Grinch who shouts, "No. Santa. Ever!
The non-stop commercializing of Christmas began November 1, or how I like to compare it: The day after Halloween, when Michael Myers attacked the same town he had attacked since I first watched Halloween when I was 3. This only makes me think that Michael Myers should get out more and see the world.
Lately, I have been shopping online. It's so convenient. And I have been shopping there so much that I wouldn't be surprised if Nico and Christopher call Hector, the United Parcel Service driver, Santa, since Hector has been to the house daily. People are going to think he and I are having an affair. Sometimes, it's a ménage à trios of trucks when the FedEx, United States Post Office, and UPS come simultaneously. No pun intended.
Questions from my kids about why these trucks come every day have yet to be brought up by them, so they need not worry. They are questioning Christmas and the existence of Santa. Christmas for them right now is more of a plethora of commands by me, "those aren't your gifts, don't touch those boxes, stop touching the tree, leave the ornaments alone, stop messing with the neighbor's Christmas lights, no I can't make you Spider-Man, no daddy doesn't know Santa Claus…because I'll text him you've been naughty!"
I'm raising good kids, though, and they deserve a lovely holiday for being good in school, having good manners, and listening to authority at least 60 percent of the time! I mean, they're 6 and 7. The only bad thing they could do right now besides burn down the house is not wanting to go to school or challenge my "no." And I find that the only people who challenge my "no" are adults. Being a police officer has always been in my arsenal.
"Sorry, ma'am, no, you can't drive that way. There's a 3 car pile up."
"I don't care, officer, I need to go there."
"But, ma'am, someone died in that car accident."
"I can't believe you're inconveniencing me," she said.
Suppose you think about all the bad things around the world and what adults have done to one another and the environment. In that case, Nico, flooding the toilets in the summer of 2015 isn't so bad. Or his brother Christopher using a permanent marker on the refurbished cabinets of my renovated kitchen in March of 2015 is, well, child's play compared to wars, bigotry, lies, cheats, and deaths. We humans are sure mean to each other.
I see why there is a mythical character that my sons can think exists that will bring joy and good cheer. We should all believe in someone who gives without thought and sacrifices to ensure the world has at least a good day. We can learn from that selflessness. Wait, that person isn't an aberration. People described like that can be my parents.
I was putting up our Christmas tree with the help of my boys. Finally, I trusted them enough to place the good ornaments on the lifelike artificial pre-lit, led tree. Some of these ornaments are priceless. Thoughts of my kids shaking the tree and causing them to tumble to the ground and shatter created as much fear in me as a cat owner who decides to put up a tree yearly.
"Dad, are all our families doing this?"
"You mean putting up a tree?"
"Yes"
"Well, no, some people don't celebrate the holiday because they have their own beliefs, and some can't afford to buy a tree or make ends meet."
"Doesn't Santa bring those kids all gifts?"
"In a perfect world, no one would suffer and be without a present during a holiday. But this is only sometimes the case. That's why we must remember that we are lucky and fortunate to have love and care for each other and give thanks that there are people out there who help others who can not help themselves. You have to believe in the spirit that Christmas day, somewhere out there, is a person spreading good cheer and sacrificing themselves to make sure others aren't doing without. As much as we want to believe that Santa is helping everyone, we also need to believe that he has helpers like us who help those he can't reach."
"We are pretty lucky that we can celebrate."
My sons may understand that Christmas equals gifts, but that doesn't mean I can't undo what commercialism tells them. They should hear from dad to give in the spirit rather than take without thought. Merry Christmas boys'
I think of you always.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE! 2015
Judd Apatow’s Night of Too Many Stars for Autism: https://www.autismspeaks.org/site-wide/night-too-many-stars
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