Where did my sweet little boy go?

The last couple of days my oldest son has been doing just about everything in his power to annoy his mother. Now, I know he is just trying to assert his independence and develop his personality, but if the kid doesn’t stop, Mom may just lose what’s left of her mind.

When Shaun was little he didn’t like other people and was pretty attached to his parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents. My mom watched him a lot of the time and for many months it was just the two of them during the day. Those two have a bond that is still there today.

In the last couple of weeks we’ve went rounds over his arguing and his defiance. He’s a smart kid and when he wants something he knows how to ask for it nicely. Other times he doesn’t. I need to remember that he’s only 3..

But man can that kid argue and whine. Oh, don’t get me started on the whining. He’s a pro. Days like yesterday make me wonder where my sweet little boy went..

Shaun at 7 months.

My husband said I’m easily annoyed

On Nov. 1 I was sitting watching TV while the boys napped. Scrolling through Facebook most friends were sharing photos of their kids on Halloween. I had done the same. My ears perked when I heard jingle bells ringing on a commercial for some store. Seriously, I thought. Halloween was JUST yesterday.

Later in the evening we were watching a football game, and the same commercial I had watched earlier in the day was on, and I made the comment rather sarcastically, “And so it starts..” What starts? My husband asked. The barrage of Christmas commercials. “Oh you’re annoyed by everything,” he said. I rolled my eyes and shook my head at him.

But it’s true. Christmas commercials before Halloween annoy me. Christmas commercials after Halloween annoy me. Christmas commercials before thanksgiving annoy me. But yet, I’m planning my assault on buying Christmas gifts for the boys and family. I haven’t bought anything yet, but it’s always good to have a plan.

As a kid I don’t remember being barraged by Christmas. I do remember the excited girls who marked pages in the JC Penney and Sears catalogs with the items they wanted. I do remember participating and going to practice for the annual Christmas Eve program at church (I was always an angel). I do remember bundling up for the ride to Grandma and Grandpa Wetzel’s for a day of packages, food and fun on Christmas day. There was no telling what could happen when all my mom’s siblings got together for a day. I remember one impromptu snowball fight that ended up in wet clothes and a lot of laughter.

Now that I have kids of my own I try to make their Christmas experiences memorable. Last year we took Shaun around to look at the lights and he still asks if we could go drive through those neighborhoods in town to see the decorations. At the little country church we attend on Christmas Eve, members circle the church at the end of the service and hold candles while singing Silent Night. Last Sunday at church Shaun asked if we could blow out the candles again. I told him at Christmas time we will.

It’s really not about the packages or the commercialization of the holiday. The point of Christmas is to remember the real reason it is celebrated, and to spend time with friends and family.

The aftermath of Christmas 2013 at our house.