the things you do for your mother.

Today, to appease my mother and the in-laws we drove 45kms to a large shopping centre and waited in a  long slow moving queue. The grandies REEEAAAALLLY wanted a picture of Busy with Santa. I, being not really into Chritsmas but increasingly being dragged ( kicking and screaming) into Chritmas- land decided let's do it now before it gets too crowded. We both agreed if Busy freaked out that was ok. No photo.

Well, clearly we were the only ones who thought that it was NOT ok to drag our child screaming with terror onto Santas lap. We just could not get over how seriously everyone was taking it! Mothers were getting agitated and stressed  and red faced trying to get reluctant children to not only sit on some hairy mans lap but smile as well.  Then when they did get the poor kid to sit on Santas lap the photo had to be perfect, dresses had to be straightened and hair combed. Arms and hands in the right place. It was ridicuous. Chef and I were just laughing at these borderline hysterical women stressing over a  Santa photo. LIGHTEN UP!!!

pic from here

By the time it was our turn Busy decided she wanted to sit on my lap and I could sit on Santas lap. I decided that would be cruel torture for an elderly man so we decided to sit on the arm of the chair instead.

Santa was lovely.
I said to him when  I sat down "Jeez, bet you feel like a drink".
He sniggered.
I said  "Jeez people take it seriously don't they?"
He laughed and gave me a squeeze of the hand and said "Yes, if they are screaming this year next year they will be smiling"
I agreed "Exactly! It is funny  when you look back at a photos and kid has a weird look on their face, that is how it is now for them, but when they are really upset I just don't see the point"
The photographer came over and started adjusting Busy and I said "Its just not that important, it doesn't need to be perfect" I saw relief flood over her- the poor thing.

So Busy asked Santa " if you have time to make a trampoline can I have one at my house?" 
Santa said "I will see what I can do, the elves are very busy"
Busy said " that's ok Santa I don't mind" (!!??)

Santa made me get a bit excited about Christmas - he made Busy excited and that made me excited. Just a bit. I will try really hard to enjoy it this year. Really I will. I will try hard not to grumble. I will grit my teeth and pretend it is all great. 

Maybe. Don't hold me to it.