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So long Santa Claus; hello Easter bunny

Although there are many benefits to having Christmas be over, there are things that I will miss in the chaos leading up to the 25th of December. I will miss having the option to call Santa Claus when the kids are being naughty.

Although there are many benefits to having Christmas be over, there are things that I will miss in the chaos leading up to the 25th of December. I will miss having the option to call Santa Claus when the kids are being naughty. It has been handy these past few weeks being able to pick up the phone and start dialling only to have the children (who were actively yelling and trying to strangle each other) freeze and stare in horror. Then there are one thousand "I'm sorry's" and they remember that they love each other. For fifteen minutes, there was peace.

Now, it is back to the old tried-and-true methods of parenting, including such classics as, silently-whispered-threats-in-the-grocery-store-of-retribution-when-we-get-home, and taking-away-all-your-new-toys-because-you-are-fighting-and-we-are-tired-of-the-noise, and finally, the old-standby classic parenting trick of giving-up-and-letting-them-run-wild-like-feral-children-until-you-remember-that-they-are-old-enough-to-be-kicked-outside-and-you-don't-really-have-to-supervise.

The kids are becoming old enough that they can play pretend and organize elaborate scenarios with each other and do not need us as much to get things started. I love watching them play and listening to the stories and games that they are making up. One of their favourite games to play is "Home," or otherwise known as, "Megan and Will."

They run around pretending to be my husband and I, greeting each other as we come home. The only things that "Megan and Will" talk about is what to make for dinner and putting the kids to bed. It is a bit humbling watching yourself as a caricature, acted out by a smaller version of yourself. As long as they are getting along, I am willing to suffer a small amount of existential shame in the hopes that I do not have to entertain them 24 hours a day. My hope for the New Year is to finish my thesis, go on a vacation and for everyone in my family to be healthy and have good things happen to them in 2019.

I may have to grab the Easter Bunny's number for the next few months to hold us over until next Christmas is close enough again. I am looking forward to the new year and I hope that good things happen to all of you as well.

Happy New Year from my family to yours!