Solo Mom: Countdown to Christmas

Just when you think life can’t get any busier, suddenly it’s December.

Countdown to Christmas and it seems like there is just so much more to do. Never mind the shopping, wrapping, decorating. There are just so many more events to get to - office holiday party, gift exchanges and finding time to see Santa, of course. But, even more important to me, are the many times I get to see my kids show off their skills this time of year.

My son just earned his green belt in Tae Kwon Do. It’s so neat to get to see him in his element. He’s so focused and in the moment when he’s going through his forms. I don’t normally get to see him in class, but I did get to spend the afternoon watching his belt test.

My daughter is a performer in the more traditional sense. She was involved in a play one week and a guitar recital and a cappella singing performance the next. This month, she also sang carols for the mayor and local police and fire departments. She truly beams when she is on stage.

In between her shows, I also got to see my son’s chorus performance. That was the night that we defined “busy.”  It was a Wednesday, so my girl had to miss a guitar lesson in order to see her brother sing.

She doesn’t like to give up those lessons for anything, but at the same time, she was so genuinely excited to see her brother on stage. He was so proud to be introducing the song, “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth,” with the perfect gap in his smile to be doing so.

So, that evening, I rushed home from work to pick up my daughter from school and son from Tae Kwon Do. We had 30 minutes to get to the school, dressed in “Sunday best.” So, we grabbed some sandwiches and ate in the car in the parking lot with 15 minutes to spare.

As we sat there, wolfing down our dinner, I watched other families approach the school, kids dressed and ready to sing (meanwhile my son is still in his Tae Kwon Do uniform, with shirt and tie hanging up in the back seat of the car). I wondered out loud, “How are all these other people here early and ready already?” After all, it is barely 5:15 p.m. and, surely, the parents work, right?

My daughter pipes up, “because they’re not single moms! You’re the only one who does all of this for us by yourself!” Good point, kid. And I’m so glad I am able to do everything I can, and that she appreciates it.

With only crumbs left of our dinner (and, my sanity), we rush inside so the boy can get changed. His friends think he looks pretty cool in his “ninja suit,” but alas, it is time to switch roles and dress for the show. I think he’s awfully handsome in his tie and fabulous on stage.

Then, it was time to get home to get the kids off to bed and remember to move those elves! ’Tis the season!