Edward had been saying that he only
wanted "one thing" from Santa.
After some prompting he finally confessed
that what he wanted was one wish.
Well, if you give a moose a muffin...
er...
If Geo hears Edward ask for something...
chances are he will want it too.
So in the last few days before Christmas
the children got it into their heads that
they wanted "a wish" for christmas.
Edward has faught a stomach flu in the
week leading up to Santa's visit.
The late night clean ups and endless
associated laundry notwithstanding,
in his somewhat weakened state,
he presented easily the most adorable,
tiny angel of a boy imaginable.
I wanted to give him his wish.
Therein begins what might have been a
horrific mistake. On Christmas eve I sat down
at the computer and started up Word.
I pulled out some special "certificate" paper...
two sheets.
"One Wish" each proclaimed... and each
childs name was carefully scripted below.
I was all proud of myself as I put a bunch of
fine print about restrictions against
"meta wishes" (wishing for wishes) and
alluded to the "natural wish rules" which I felt
certain would provide ample opportunity
for definition to stem the flow of silliness that
"wishing" may produce.
Rolled up, tied with ribbon, and placed in the
branches of the Christmas tree. There they waited.
Christmas morning brought all the expected delights.
New games, treats, and toys all had their moments.
The scrolls, however, seemed to catch their eyes
and when they opened them... their minds as well.
My darling Z... my partner in parenting and pretty
well everything else... gave me the look. The one
that tells a story in a heartbeat. I felt immediately that
I had made a nasty mistake and perhaps should have
had more faith in the notion that they would quickly forget
their hopes for a wish. Alas... earwax.
As the morning became the afternoon and we set about
on family visits, the "wish" issue rose up and I sat each boy
down and explained that the wish certificates were only
as real as they wanted to make them but they must save
their wishes for something really important.
I figured... I'm in a hole... why not dig a little deeper.
The day passed... as Christmas day is want to do, with much
eating... and loads of "overstimulation time" for the kids.
Edward, still only just on this side of the flu was wearing thin
so we packed it up for home by about 9:00 pm. A long day
for anyone... let alone the little guys.
When we got home, I was absently noting Georges quiet behaviour.
All became clear when he pulled me aside and told me that he "had it".
It?? He explained that he had thought about it all day and decided that
he knew what he wanted to wish for... then in one breath he said;
"I don't care if you made the wish or if Santa did...
... I wish for Edward to get better."
Today... my poor little George is complaining of a tummy ache. I suspect
that it is his turn to deal with this flu. Noteable, however, is Edward's seeming
complete return to good health. Go figure.
Edward, by the way, has alternately "wished" to spend the day in his pj's,
for the stairs to explode, for lights to flash and for a sip of diet coke.
My guilt over the "wish" mistake is long gone.