Christmas, A Day Later

Today felt more like a holiday than Christmas Day. There was no rushing around, no cooking, no cleaning, no relatives to entertain. Hendrick and I stayed in our jammies all day and played with his new toys.

I went to bed feeling miserable last night. For the first time in his little life, Hendrick understood what Christmas was about. (OK, just the presents part of the celebration. He still doesn't get the Savior-is-born concept. In fact, he used his Fisher Price manger to park his Hot Wheels.)

All he wanted to do was play with his new toys, but momma had little time for fun on Christmas morning. I kept watching the clock, knowing that a houseful of hungry relatives were on their way.

Does the hostess really ever enjoy a holiday? (My grandmothers made it look so effortless. Did I really think those turkeys flew into the oven and baked themselves when I was a kid?!)

My husband was so happy that Christmas would be celebrated at our house this year so Hendrick could stay home and play with his toys. The trouble was, everyone but me got to relax and play with him.

Hendrick had a blast, despite my lack of attention. We thought he was going to explode with excitement when Uncle Peter gave him a pint-size acoustic guitar. But then my parents wheeled in a battery powered riding car that goes about 2 miles an hour and he raced out the door with it. We barely had a chance to put his coat and hat on.

During dinner he sat on the kitchen floor, wearing his newly acquired lumber-jack hat from Peter's girlfriend, and he serenaded the family with that guitar. I wanted to crawl on the floor next to him, but I was worried there wasn't enough grated cheese on the table for the manicotti.

Mothers really wear themselves down around the holidays, don't they? I have been terribly sick for days, but Christmas waits for no woman to stop sniffling.

I hate to say that I'm glad the holidays are over, but it is a relief. Now, I can finally recuperate and give my son my full attention again.

Tonight I will definitely sleep better. Hendrick and I played all day. When John came home from work, we heated up leftovers and then sat on the living room floor and formed a little band with our instruments. We sang until our hearts were content.