Christmas Eve in the hizzie! When I was a little CWMP, Christmas Eve was the most frustrating day of the year for me. I don't remember where I came up with this idea, but I was certain that if I was awake when Santa Claus came to my house, he would leave without giving me my presents. While this bit of info could motivate some kids to go right to sleep on Christmas Eve, it served to terrify me. I would get so worked up about Santa Claus passing our house that I would be absolutely incapable of sleeping that night. Then, as the clock started inching towards midnight, I'd go into colossal freak-out mode because I knew that at any moment, Santa was going to pull up in his sleigh and then fly right off again. Yelling, crying, ripping my room apart: these late-night Christmas Eve nervous breakdowns became a time-honored tradition in the Powell household.
There was nothing that anyone could do to cheer me up on Christmas Even, because I was absolutely inconsolable. My parents would always attempt to talk me down off the Christmas ledge, but it never worked. Our exchanges would go something like this:
Parents: Don't worry; we'll make sure Santa doesn't skip you if you can't go to bed.
Me: I know the rules; it doesn't work that way!
Parents: We PROMISE he won't skip our house.
Me: Who do you think you are, bossing around Santa Claus like that?
We'd repeat those lines until 4 AM Christmas morning, at which point I'd fall asleep for 30 minutes and then go wake my parents up to get my presents on. So, to any 5 year olds who happen to be reading this, I feel the need to first commend you on your reading skills, and second, inform you that Santa Claus won't skip you if you have a hard time going to sleep tonight. Unless, of course, you've been bad, which is another thing to obsess over. Have a great Christmas everyone, and I'll be smelling you guys again on the 26th.
Posted by Cody at December 24, 2003 1:16 PM