I remember the Christmas when all my son wanted was a jump rope.  He wasn’t dreaming of toys or games or sugar-plums dancing in his head.  The boy wanted a jump rope, and when he sets his mind to something, there is no swaying him.

As luck would have it, we couldn’t find a jump rope in the stores to save our lives, or our reputations as Santa and Mrs. Claus.  My husband ended up buying rope and handles from the hardware store, and he put together his own version of a jump rope.  It was very elf-like of him.

Another year, my kids wanted hoola-hoops.  Their wish lists really broke the bank in those early years.  Our friends would shake their heads and wag their fingers, telling us to “enjoy it while you can.”

We shrugged off their warnings, reveling in the bliss of our non-materialistic two-foot angels.

I mean, what could our future Christmas lists possibly hold?  A yo-yo?!?

Fast forward all these years later…

“One day” came and went.

Now my kids are as tall as I am and their wish lists are eerily similar to my own.

This year my daughter asked for a laptop, as in computer – the kind that costs money and requires internet access.

Oh, for the days of the jump rope.

This kid is cute and she likes to cuddle.  She walks around in furry animal hats, and people think she’s darling.  No one really gives her credit for being a sly little devil, but this Christmas she went in for the kill.

She made her case for a computer, of course listing things like “school work” to defend her cause.  We shook our heads and went on our merry way.

So, she got me alone and snuggled in close and told me how she wanted a laptop to write her stories.

How could I say no to that?

While we’re eating Ramen Noodles three times a week in January so we can pay off her computer, I hope she’s sitting in her room writing a best seller.

I’ll be dreaming of all those Christmases past when all I had to buy was a jump rope.

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From our home to yours,

Merry Christmas.