You'd Better Watch Out, You'd Better Not Cry...

We are always looking for the perfect moment.  All you have to do to believe this is look at the lines at the all where Santa Claus is.  During the holiday season,  hundreds of parents drag their children to the mall to see Santa and capture that perfect idyllic moment where there child is sitting on Santa's lap, telling him all of their Christmas dreams.  You can just picture the snowflakes falling, the rosy cheeks, the perfectly coifed hair and Christmas outfit.  Be honest parents, we have all tried.

I actually got my gang to go on their own for pictures at Christmas time.  Imagine, seven adults and teenagers gathered around Santa for a group photo!!!  Some of my favorites.

Oh sure, there are those rare families like Mommy's and Superson's.  Their lovely little darlings are perfectly dressed.  They are loving Santa and have big smiles on their faces.  The look at the camera at the perfect moment and are captured forever in print.   There mom's and dad's are so proud and smiling also.

And then . . . You have the rest of the world.

God bless her, Mini-Me's children fall into that category.  They are threatened and cajoled into getting into lovely outfits and combing their hair.  On the way to the mall, they are given instructions on how to behave and asked what they will tell Santa.  After all, we don't want any surprises, like maybe Stitch telling Santa he fahrted.  And you stand in line waiting your turn while wrestling the children who are no longer perfectly dressed.  You watch all the other children take their turns and say "See, how they are doing it.  That's all there is to it."  And then it is finally your turn.  One of them is anxious to sit on Santa's lap and starts talking and won't stop.  But she is smiling!  The baby has a totally confused look on his face, and Max does all the talking for him.  And finally, Stitch is dragged into the picture, shoved into place and held there by his mother's outstretched arm (to keep her out of the picture).  It is difficult to keep him in place.  He is leaning away from the rest of the family and Santa.  Finally, his grandmother steps in and threatens him with his life.  He is placed on a box, a full foot away from Santa and his siblings and is photographed with a scowl on his face while Max also tells Santa everything that he wants.  

Truly, Christmas isn't about the perfect moments.  It is just about the moments as a family celebrating the birth of Christ.  The extra stuff, like Santa Claus and gifts just adds to the special time we are all sharing.  May God bless you with moments, no matter what they are like, whether idyllic or crazy.  Make sure you spread joy and love to all, even the Stitches of the world and have a blessed holiday week!