Post-Christmas Blues

Have you ever felt that you've aged considerably in a relatively short period of time? If you haven't, then you are not a father. It seems when December 26th arrives, I have aged approximately 7 years. All of the shopping, spending, Christmas events, traveling, and to top it off, playing Santa Claus which entails putting all the toys and other gifts together after midnight and having them spread out under the tree in an orderly fashion. Then you hear voices while in a "REM" level of sleep. The voices tug and tug. They draw you from an awesome state of comfort and warmth. Finally, when I surrender to the voices, I open my eyes and see very excited children. Well, this was usually the case. Now my children are teenagers...Now I have to battle the alarm clock, and now I'm the one who has to transmit the voices to the teen's REM sleeping stage. I am the one who has to stay up late doing the gifts and getting up early and ressurect the dead.
Now comes the "I didn't want this, I didn't want that!" And then you hear, "This is the wrong color," or "This is the wrong kind." Then Father "Bright eyes" has to go exchange all the gifts, and it usually requires extra expenses to pay for the right "wanted" items. This usually takes an entire day. When the day is over, you feel that you've run your course and now you can relax and enjoy some time off! But wait, wait! What day is this? Oh, no! I've got to go to work in the morning! Ohhhhhhh nnnnnnoooooooo! I know this sounds a little drastic, but I wouldn't trade anything for it. These stressful times are actually fulfilling and they create beautiful memories. The smiles and the excitement create wonderful memories that would make any parent just beam with satisfaction! I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a father, a provider, and a smile maker.
Until next year...Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!