Prepping for late night Christmas shopping

I was prepping my eight-year-old daughter last night with some prescient phrases -- “no, we aren’t buying any balloons”, “only one cottton floss to share”  “we have gone on enough rides” and finally “it’s time to go home.” 

Funnily enough she laughed rather than burst into tears or scream as is usually the case when the setting is slightly different.

Tonight is the long awaited late night shopping in our town where the Christmas tree is lit, fun fair rides and games of chance are brought in along with the local shops spilling onto the streets with mulled wine and tasty nibbles. 

It’s always a very sociable night meeting mostly other parents and sharing a quick update before moving on or keeping up with fast paced children

However, its also Friday.  The children are tired, overwhelmed with excitement in addition to having very high expectations of treats, rides and impossible games of chance.  Therefore, one of the above phrases said later this evening will illicit howls and shouts of  “no” and the inevitable tears.  

I am preparing myself.  I am going to give all the children a little “pep” talk as I refer to them.   There will also be serious attempts to manage expectations.

 Every year I do actually look forward to the evening.  However, with the knowledge that all will break down and I will ultimately be carrying a crying child back to the car.

Oh well, it has been going on for so many years now it seems almost like a tradition.  Maybe I won’t fight it so hard and accept it’s inevitability.  It’s really only a matter of time before they grow out of it ... right?

This post is written by Charlene, a Thames Valley Mum founding contributor

Photo Credit: Just Me Again

Comments

[Susanna (A Modern Mother)]

So was it as bad as you feared?

[charlene]

Hmmm... unexpectedly was alone with four children. Gave in to multiple candy floss. Didn't lose any which was big plus. As crying child was walking back to car, stopped in to a shop for warmth. Shop owner and assistants provided large amounts of chocolate and understanding to crying child. Calm ensued. Probably pretty much what I expected.