Get It, Got It, Good!
At first glance, this just looks like a normal picture…nothing more than a picture. A toss-able one even. I came across it last week. Haven’t seen it in years. Oh, but I’ll never forget.
It’s dead-on.
This one is way more than a thousand words people. This is hard stuff.
His 5th birthday.
I so wanted him to want to open the gift. I tried really hard to get that picture. The one where he is interested, the one where he get’s excited… just one.
There is so much pain there with me looking down. You can’t really tell… or can you? I’m trying to keep it together. I wanted to cry… really hard. Hysterically, but I kept it together.
He wants to go outside. I know it. He doesn’t care about gifts. I know it.
Birthdays and Christmas’… I know the drill.
A lot has changed since this picture. A lot.
It’s still hard. Yes. And even at nine, I still have to encourage him to open the dadgum gift.
Every year I watch in amazement as his cousin (same age) barrels through his gifts with the wrappings and trimmings flying all over… William’s gifts would still look pristine and intact if I didn’t coerce just a titch.
But, I do know certain gifts he prefers. <converse shoes> always and forever…
They are never really toys. He doesn’t “play” with toys.
Some of his favorites include plastic spoons, an eraser, and a mangled hairbrush that he has managed to keep for two years now and I am currently contemplating on getting a new one. Or does the old one carry meaning?… we’ll see. <smile>
When you start realizing what they do like…even if it sounds ridiculous, get it.
When it seems silly and not so age appropriate anymore, get it.
When you can’t think of anything to buy, dig deep for it. It’s there, get it.
There is always something that is of interest. It may not be what you want them to want, but… it’s not about you.
One of my all-time favorite posts is Merry Christmas, Here’s Your Spoon!
It still holds true today on many levels. You can end some of the pain by digging for what really brings them joy.
These days, we are all about experiences. Trampoline parks, zoo trips, museums of all sorts, and swimming… anything active.
Although it may seem boring to open up a card with an “experience” inside, the smile on his face when we are actually experiencing the preferred above activities is unstoppable.
I’ll be sure to take a picture. It will look nothing like this one <smile>
Merry Christmas!!
To read more blogs from Melanie, Seth and TheFowler4Group, check out their Website (www.lookatmyeyes.com) and while you’re there, buy a copy of their book, “Look At My Eyes”. Or find them on YouTube. To contact TheFowler4 Group email: [email protected]
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