Saturday was one of those days of the year that have potential to put me over the edge with giddiness and giggles or over the other edge with tantrums and tears: it was decorate-the-Christmas-tree day.
Every year I set myself up by Rockwell-izing in my head, what the event will be. Every year I wonder what I was thinking and when I will decide to be more realistic.
Reality is: Sierra has little self-control to begin with and adding the excitement of this activity sends her into orbit; Samara always deserves to be first and foremost and if she doesn't get her own way she has the right to let us all know how unfairly she's being treated; Evan has at his disposal all of his siblings in a limited area so that he can pester and bother without the worry of them getting away; Cinque, although having been through last Christmas and knowing the ropes, gets to play the sad-faced victim to garner the attention he feels he's owed; Eli likes things to be orderly and fair and feels the need to set right whatever is wrong to the point of squelching any glimmer of spontaneity; Fred is resistant to and confused by any out-of-the-ordinary event and so may chose from any number of disruptive behaviors to attempt to cope.
Reality ALSO is: Sierra says some really funny things as she gives commentary on each ornament she hangs, where she's putting it and why = JOY; Samara takes great care in examining, exclaiming over and appreciating every ornament that I hand to her = GENTLENESS; Evan finds just the right spot to hang just the right ornament and wants to hear stories of the history and memories of others = PATIENCE; Cinque volunteers to find hooks for the hook-less ornaments, pick up the ones that slide off the branches and help with the clean up afterward = KINDNESS; Eli waits for the younger ones to take turns, helps the girls to reach the higher spots and ensures that no one is getting more turns than anyone else = GOODNESS; Fred stands back, smiling and watching, taking his time while trying to stay out of the way = PEACE.
I rather like our reality.
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