Roxanne Suson, a Brookfield native and graduate of Brookfield East High School, provides readers with an eclectic mix of topics. Once a trial attorney, now a full-time mom, Roxanne blogs about the happiness, sadness, and absurdity of life and family in the suburbs.
Twas the week before Christmas,
And all through the house,
Decorations were scattered
By me and my spouse.
"Where are the stockings?"
I asked, searching in vain.
"I don't know, " muttered my husband.
"But decorating's a pain!"
To the spare room, he went
To search the holiday trim,
With our youngest daughter following
Right smack behind him.
My husband had forgotten
That in the room he did place
All the presents from "Santa,"
That being the only spare space.
With my daughter next to him,
He opened the door,
And there was "Dora's Princess Castle"
In plain view on the floor.
My daughter shrieked with delight.
Then howled with despair,
As my husband tried to block her
From seeing what was there.
It was too late; she had seen it.
Much to our chagrin.
My mind raced to create
A story to spin.
"Sometimes the gifts
Are too much for one night.
So, Santa gives some to parents
Early, to keep out of sight."
I added, "The presents pile up,
And the sleigh is so full
That sometimes it's hard
For the reindeeer to pull."
My daughter slowly nodded.
The story, she had bought.
So all of our planning
Was not all for naught.
With a resigned sigh,
We gave her the gift.
Her smile of pleasure
Gave our spirits a lift.
But then she stopped and stared.
No more smiles. No more fuss.
"Mom," she asked loudly,
"is this from Toys 'R Us?"
"The jig is up!"
We thought to ourselves
Goodbye Santa. Goodbye Rudolph.
Goodbye toy making elves.
A Toys 'R Us Symbol
Was what did us in.
And my mind searched again
For another tale to spin.
"Sometimes," I explained,
"Santa gets toys from the store."
I stopped there.
I could think of no more.
She accepted that blindly,
The way children do,
Playing happily with her castle
And all its accessories too.`
She'll only believe
For a few short years.
So I'll keep Santa going
Till truth-telling time nears.
She knows there's more to Christmas
Than the bearded man of great girth.
We teach her respect for others' traditions
We celebrate Christ's birth.
I hope you've enjoyed
My holiday ode
To the time Santa came early
Due to "sleigh overload."
-- MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
