Last night, Ryan was asleep about 3 minutes after she went to bed. I remember lying awake for hours on Christmas Eve. This morning, I had to wake her up... at 7:30! No one ever had to wake me up on Christmas Day. And she made me open my present from her before she would even look at her packages. How weird (and cool) is she?
After the weirdness, we headed out to serve Christmas dinner at the community center near here. It was the first time we'd volunteered there and it was really great! There was a standing-room-only crowd and everyone was feeling festive and grateful. I was so proud of Ryan, who just jumped right in and helped out anywhere she could. She delivered pie, served up drinks, and cleared tables. Though she's a bit shy around people she doesn't know, she was friendly and chatty (even though some people were "a little scary-looking"... but she also told me she realized how important it is not to assume people will act a certain way based on how they look. Have I mentioned how proud I am of her? I'm so proud of her!). Anyway, it was a nice way to spend a day that's usually very stuff-oriented, especially for a 9-year-old.
After cleaning up at the center, we headed to the movies and saw The Tale of Despereaux, which was adapted from one of our favorite books (by Kate DiCamillo), about a mouse who believes himself a gentleman; who faces life head-on and lives with a gargantuan sense of honor and responsibility. It was wonderful and if you have little kids (or even if you don't), you have to catch it! We gorged on popcorn and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
It was a different sort of Christmas for us, but a really good one, too. We'll be heading back to the community center on Monday, to help out in the weekly soup kitchen. I've committed to going as often as possible and Ryan has offered to come with me whenever she's out of school. It sounds like a good way to start the new year!
Hope you all had a great holiday!!
16 comments:
You're an awesome mom who got what she deserved... a great daughter. You two are both angels. ;)
I got more bad attitude in my stocking.
And you?
Jane!... I think 'angels' might be stretching it ;) but thanks!! She is a great kid (though I forget sometimes, when she's having her 'devil' moments :).
I got a few nice things in my stocking. I'm hoping the attitude adjustment I wanted is WAY down at the bottom... we'll see... ;)
What a lucky pair you are! May 2008 bring you many more opportunities to be a blessing - your blog is one of them!
You have a lot to be proud of. But then, so does she.
Finally, a child with substance and a consciousness beyond the "me." I love her :)
Glad to hear you had a wonderful Christmas Diane, and you're right The Tale of Despereaux.
It sounds like you had a fantastic Christmas. I'm so happy for you :)
Wow..that's really a nice way to celebrate..by giving to others. May be I should start doing something like that too..hardly join the community I'm staying here..mostly because we're outsiders.
What a great tradition you have started! Christmas will mean so much more to her than stuff. And yeah, sometimes kids surprize you by how much they "get it" despite all the marketing toward the contrary. (My neice told me that Hannah Montana's parents should make her wear more clothing) LOL.
Happy Holidays
What a great idea! I've been meaning to get around to some kind of volunteer work like this...I just keep getting caught up with all the other things in life: couches, televisions, self-pity and alcohol.
Good for you guys! Merry Holidays!
Ryan sounds like a terrific young lady... and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, as they say.
So happy to hear that your Christmas was truly excellent - fun and worthy. So good of you both to be helping others! :)
That's a great thing to do! I hope you both (and everyone who crossed both your paths) had a wonderful Christmas!
I would too love to have a weird kid like yours Diane.;))
I am happy you had so much fun with Ryan, it warms my heart.;))
Wow Diane - what a lovely thing to do. You make me feel all humble. Mum had a tear in her eye - she gets all emotional about stuff these days. Also, mum REALLY wants to see that film, it's on her 'DVD's to buy' list (she can't see stuff over here in France 'cause it's always dubbed in French and impossible to follow).
You have wonderful kid who has a fantastic mother...Merry Christmas!
I'm so glad y'all had a good Christmas!! Ryan sounds like an amazing kid!
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