It is almost Christmas time ( almost for the shops, not me) and my mail box has been flooded with flyers. When my children were little, I went through each of the flyers looking for ideal toys for them. I lost count of many Barbies, bratz dolls, lego sets I bought over the years..but what I remember the most is the absolute joy on their face when they opened their gifts on Christmas morning.
Now my children no longer believe in Santa, neither are they interested in toys. All Yaya wants for Christmas is a new sim card for her phone, my son wants a recurve bow and baby wants a puppy.
Yesterday while talking to Yaya, I told her I miss going to the shops to buy toys for them and she looked at me for a second and then said
“Really mom? Don’t you remember how you used to ask us how many barbie dolls/train set you need? or how you used to threaten us and tell us that you will leave us behind if we don’t leave the shop ‘right now’?”
What she said is very true.. I did all that and more.. I felt a pang of guilt..I dreaded the visits to shopping malls, especially the toys section when my children were little. I was forever saying ‘No’ to all their requests.
We had our Thanksgiving dinner last night. ( Canadians celebrate in October and Yaya wasn’t here, so we chose to celebrate the American Thanksgiving)
I roasted the turkey, baked cornbread, pumpkin pie and apple pie, cooked candied carrots and cranberrry sauce.
And as we ate our dinner I asked my children what are they thankful for?
Baby said ” her annoying, but wonderful siblings”. My son said ” for being able to visit all the places that we travelled this year” and Yaya said ” I am thankful that you are my mom”
My heart almost exploded with joy.when I heard Yaya’s reply!
And my children asked me What are you thankful for?
When I woke up yesterday morning, I had thought about what I am thankful for and felt I am thankful for my children and wonderful friends,, but yesterday evening, while my child told me that she is thankful that I am her mom, I realized the biggest thing that ever happened to me was that I was able to enjoy her childhood with her.. I was there ..every step of the way. So yes, I wish I was more patient when my children were little and said less “no”s, but that is ok..what mattered most was that I was there..to see all the smiles and wipe all the tears. I am thankful for that.
Happy Thanksgiving !
Happy thanks giving to you, yaya, toothless and baby…When i read what yaya is thankful for i almost choked – You are a great mom Sarah!
Congrats on the new site!
Lux: Thank you..
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. This is the exact same conversation R & I had last night as we were driving home from meeting family . There are days I feel guilty that I don’t work, but I am very thankful that I am there with Ashwin & enjoy every little milestone of his.
Shankari: The biggest gift you can ever give Ashwin is your time. ( Btw,I still smile when I think of Ashwin’s funny dog comment for Giraffe!)