Last night was our Third Annual Mother Daughter Christmas Tea Party. As always, there were lessons learned. I actually wonder if a person ever stops learning lessons. Probably not... I just hope the lessons get less painful as time goes by.
Lesson #1 - Leave LOTS of time. I planned on the girlies doing all of the work alongside of me. What I failed to remember is that you can't crank things out like your normally do. My "Quick" Microwave Caramel Popcorn recipe that we traditionally (3 years in a row makes a tradition, right?) use for favors took three time as long because Scooter and Skeeter made it. But they really made it. And, that makes me smile as I sit here and type. I will be honest and say that I wasn't smiling when I was cleaning up the corn syrup puddles off the counter and repeating, "DO NOT LICK THE SPOON. or DO NOT EAT THE BROWN SUGAR." But, I'm smiling now. And, proud of them. In a good way.
Lesson #2 - Do not plan games that use or involve the word, "Out." Small children just can't handle the exclusion. While the parents thought it somewhat amusing, nobody like theirs to be the small child that's bawling their eyes out. Little ones just think they're in trouble or suddenly not allowed to play anymore for some strange, weird reason. I should've known better. Now I do. Next year, I'm thinking Pin the Star on the Christmas Tree or something like that.
More lessons to come... right now, real life calls.
Merry Christmas,
Dominique
