I woke up at 3 o’clock this morning in a panic. I was certain I had forgotten to do something but I didn’t know what. Maybe I was just startled because Steve’s alarm had gone off. Steve snoozed the alarm and I rolled over and went back to sleep.
For the next hour, every time the snooze went off I would wake up - still certain that I was forgetting something important. Finally, I realized what it was.
Today is St. Nick’s Day and I hadn’t picked up any treats for the kids’ stockings.
I have lots of excuses for why I completely forgot about my kids’ favorite holiday. My 1-year-old grandson has been here and things have been hectic. My schedule is off. I haven’t been planning my days and I am lost without a to-do list. Also, I haven’t decorated for Christmas yet and the kids’ stockings are still in the attic. I usually decorate for Christmas right after my birthday on the 1st. This year I’m behind schedule because there’s a car blocking my access to the attic. And there aren’t any signs or displays in the stores to remind a forgetful mom that it is nearly St. Nick’s. Hardly anyone around here celebrates. Up north, every one celebrates and the stores make sure you don’t forget.
Putting my excuses aside, and apologizing (in my head) for all the nasty things I’ve ever said about WalMart, I threw on my clothes, braved the cold and rushed off to the only store open in the wee hours of the morning. As I roamed around the aisles tossing various items in the cart, I said a little prayer of thanks that WalMart’s desire to make a buck 24-hours-a-day had saved me once again. In the wink of an eye I was back home stuffing newly purchased stockings with candy and trinkets. I was cramming a new hat, scarf and gloves into April’s stocking just as Violet’s alarm clock started ringing.
Do your kids set their alarms for o-dark-thirty on holidays like mine do? Especially Violet who loves to get up at the crack of dawn most days. I barely got the stockings hung before Violet made her sleepy way to the entry to check on what goodies St Nick had left for her.
I managed to save St. Nick’s day by the skin of my teeth and if I wasn’t confessing my motherly shortcomings here, no one but Steve would be the wiser.
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