I thank my son for giving me the gift of patience and reminding me that Christmas is about "believing" again. For a reminder, I made a list of things I have learned from him.

1. Trees grow outside and aren't covered with lights and decorations in the middle of the house.

2. Ornaments are meant to be licked on, not looked at.

3. Clothing is still a nuisance even when it is 20 degrees outside.

4. Photo cards are a disaster.

5. Santa visits equal… meltdown. After all he has been stalking you all year, watching your every move, taking notes and knows when you are sleeping.

6. Who needs sleep?

7. He's not eating until we get home and he has his own food, on his own plates and his own silverware.

8. Skip the family gatherings; or at least be prepared to leave early and don't feel guilty about it.

9. What's age-appropriate got to do with choosing a gift?

10. Two weeks without services?

11. Toy Story and/ or Transformer Marathons are a must when things aren't going well.

12. Why can't you line up the Nativity?

13. Boxing Day means… all the decorations (if there are any left up) get taken down and put away for next year.

14. Dr. Seuss said it best, "What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

Merry Christmas!