“If you don’t put another bead on that ornament, I’m taking the beads away!”
Nothing like threats to really foster that Christmas spirit. To my credit, she asks to do the craft
Zs Homemade Orna-na-ments
project. “Oh!” she says. “I want to make another orna-na-ment.” To her credit, she’s two. After threading five or six pony beads on a pipe cleaner, she’s ready to move on to lining up rubber duckies or arranging an elaborate dinner for her stuffed gecko.
To my credit, I have festive Christmas music playing in the background. To her credit, yesterday was the first clear day after a handful of rainy ones, and sitting still didn’t sound fun.
To my credit, I’m aiming for Christmas to be about giving, not just receiving…even though I’ve dropped countless hints about the Laptop O’ Dreams. To Z’s credit, I don’t think she quite understands the concept of a Christmas deadline (after all, she doesn’t have an email inbox full of reminders and coupons ominously counting down to the Big Day).
To the relief of both of us, we can always take a break from beading. There are all sorts of additional holiday tasks readily adaptable to a two-year-old’s capabilities and temperament. So far I’ve had her put stickers on the Christmas card envelopes, sweep fallen needles from under the Christmas tree, and help with house cleaning before family comes. Soon she’ll be stirring dough for Christmas cookies and helping me wrap presents!
The best part of this is: these Christmas “chores” are fun anyway, and they’re even more fun when I view them through the eyes of my daughter.
Beth Hull 
I love her orna-na-ments. So festive!
Well, if I can get her to sit still, maybe you also can have an orna-na-ment.
Having visited you now, I see that would be a gargantuan task. 🙂 Oh well, now I have a nice family picture instead (with Z blinking, but since your husby’s arm was about to fall off, I’ll take what I can get).
Homemade anything is the best…especially from a two year old. You should hear her sing “Jingle Bells”!
The last reply was from me, not Beth. What happened?
Mom, I think your computer left me signed in when I was up visiting! Whoops!
Just think, if your mom wasn’t such a nice person, she could’ve gone around to random blogs posting trollish comments as you! 😀
Heck I’m just impressed you’re getting Christmas cards out!! The ora-na-ments look lovely 🙂
@Dana: Yeah, she never finished the ornaments I’d planned for her to make for, like, everyone. I should be happy we got five out of her. Also: I’ll email you one of the photos from my camera. After I finish reading Jane!