Christmass Story

Let me start by telling you a short story of something that I did when I was young. I loved sneaking and discovering what my gifts were; I wanted to know if I'd be happy with them or not. Then if I wasn't, I could act like I was. Anyway, one Christmass I got caught by...a cat. I had sneaked into my parent's personal attic and discovered that they had gotten me what I wanted that year, a ghetto-blaster. (well, something like that) With great excitement and an eager attitude for the day when I could claim the gift as mine, I left the attic and made sure that my parents would never discover my deceit. Unbeknowst to me, a cat had followed me into the attic, and I had shut it inside. For a couple of days we could hear meowing from the bathroom, but we assumed that it was coming from under the house where the cats sometimes went when it got cold outside. However, one fateful day my mom figured out that the meowing was actually coming from their attic, and through her infamous detective work, discovered my deceit. My punishment: she returned the blaster to the store. I never went looking for my gifts again. I did end up getting a mini-blaster, but it was not a nice as the original. Where does this story go?

My daughter H. decided to open some gifts that were sent by Aunt M. last night while we were all asleep. I was mad. But at the same time I thought, "Like daughter, like mother." She actually was aware that what she did was wrong because she had hidden the presents so that I would not find them, and now, M.'s is missing. H. is just as strong-willed as I am, it'll be an interesting time raising her. :)

Tomorrow N.M will get to go to our local ski-hill and learn the art of skiing. It is his Christmass gift from his friend Collin. I love Collin, he is a neat kid. What I really like about Collin is how N.M and him get along so well. I am also learning some about N.M's social-skills and that is helpful. He tends to be a single-friend player and so I'm trying to teach him how to be flexible with people that he might not like, but is someone his friend may like. I've told him that he does not have to like everyone, but that common courtesy and respect should be offered to everyone. And that sometimes, it is better to check your attitude than let others be negatively affected by it. (Ie his friends) Yeh, I could use a lesson myself. :)

Adios!