3 hours, 154 broken ornaments, 14 half working strings of lights, 4 band aids later and I’m still less pissed off than my 19 month old bc he isn’t allowed to throw his toys inside the Christmas tree. 
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! 🎄 
Nothing says Easter like a Mr. Rodgers sweater
Easter… Another holiday… Another event… Another opportunity to spend with family. A time for rejoice and reflection, however gets lost in the mounds of chocolate and colorful eggs and other various items that have absolutely nothing to do with religion, and this got me thinking… What is my son’s relationship with god going to be?
I grew up in a typical catholic household… Not total bible thumpers, but church going, CCD attending, alter boy, Italian catholic family. Stephanie went to catholic school her entire life from “grammar school” (do people actually call it grammar school), through high school.
So where does that leave our little one? I’ve said a lot of things on this blog that might be a little controversial, some that I’m sure others agree with and some that others probably think I’m crazy for. I’m sure this statement is going to be one of those… I hate that I want to go to church just a little less that I want to do a lot of other things.
I don’t want to pretend to be something I’m not. But I also don’t want to just do the things that are easy. Sacrificing region for a nice calm Sunday morning is easy, but is it right? I want Jax to know that our religion is important to us, but I’m not sure how to do that when we seem to be on the holiday church schedule… (You know attend Christmas, Easter, Palm Sunday, etc).
I’ve had quite a bit of trouble writing this… Obviously Easter was a week a go, and I’m still writing and rewriting. Mostly because I don’t know how this will be perceived. What are my parents going to say? What will Jax think years from now when he rests this?
Is it bad to admit that going to church is not a high priority for me? Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad I was raised Catholic and that I have the knowledge that I do regarding my religion and the bible, knowing I have an outlet when I need to talk to someone, or say a prayer too and that someone is listening… Somehow and someway makes me feel better. There have definitely been times where the best person to talk to, was someone I couldn’t even see.
This isn’t some innovative blog post; I’m sure it has been written about before. I just don’t know if anyone has taken the middle road before. It seems to be either you are writing about how God raised his arms and created the Heavens and Earth or you are writing about how the dinosaurs don’t believe in God. There has to be a happy medium right? In 2015 you shouldn’t have to choose to just toe the line; you should be able to hop back and forth and believe in certain things that you can’t see or hear, but also be able to do it at your own pace.
Does that make sense? I’m not sure if it did, but it will soon because we’re living it now.
This blog entry has been featured on Honustmum.com as a Brilliant Blog Post.
As I sit here (finally) after six
hours of cleaning I am reflecting on how having a child completely changes your outlook on everything. First of all i really actually… For the first time ever completely and utterly did not care about one present or gift for myself.
I never really cared how much or what I got or was given, but it’s still cool opening your gifts and seeing what people thought you’d like. Plus it’s always nice to open something you really, really have been dropping hints about, but would probably never buy for yourself…
And then there is the mess… This is an OCD’s W.O.R.S.T. Nightmare. There is literally STUFF everywherrrrrreeeeeeee!! I didn’t even see half of this stuff yesterday. Who the hell bought my son a freaking toy toaster!?!! Who bought him this creepy bear (that looks like Ted’s evil brother) that plays peekaboo with a handkerchief? As an aside Jax apparently loves making toast and playing peekaboo considering he’s been giggling at both of those toys all morning.
There is more cardboard in this room than at a baseball card manufacturing plant. The amount of wrapping paper and tape that is still stuck to every piece of furniture and the wood floor is extraordinary. Plus I’m not one to keep 657 snowmen decorations up too long after Xmas. It looks like Frosty threw up all over our first floor!
Time to get some of this organized! (I wish I got a cleaning lady for Xmas!)
Tree stays. Mantle stays. Other crap… Peace out ✌️
“Where do you think you’re going? Nobody’s leaving. Nobody’s walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no. We’re all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We’re gonna press on, and we’re gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny freaking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he’s gonna find the jolliest bunch of A-holes this side of the nuthouse.”
Not a chance Christmas went bye without some incredible stories. Doesn’t matter if it was Jax’ first christmas or his 15th. Today was filled with love, laughter and lunacy. The amount of toys that santa brought for this little dude was insane. There is not a chance in hell that he could even comprehend the amount of STUFF that he unwrapped today. All I know, all we know, all he knows (I think he knows) is he is so lucky to have such an amazing cast of family members who treat him like he is king of the Seven Kingdoms. Santa spent a little extra time here last night and this morning dropping off some awesome toys.
There was the chair that looks like a toilet. (I need one of these for football Sundays).
Then there was the basket that was supposed to be for Auntie Tricia’s spa supplies.
Grammy’s buttons on her Christmas Shirt were a source of entertainment for all ages (especially 8 month olds).
The Wrapping paper gift was a favorite as well. It tasted yummy.
He also loved the Jackson sized replica of the Empire State building that he could climb and pretend to be King Kong on!
Then there was the incredibly inspiring story of Walter the Farting Dog who shares in Jax’ favorite past time… farting.
Jax was amazed by the generosity of everyone; Santa went above and beyond!!!!
Jax knows Christmas is about giving not just getting presents… he spent his allowance on his brothers XMAS gift.
… but most of all Jackson loved all the attention from the most important people in his life… his family.
Family traditions and family craziness aside… Stephanie and I want to take a second to thank everyone who has been there to support this journey of ours through parenthood. Most of all our parents and family and especially our friends who have answered our desperate phone calls at 2 and 3 AM when Jax was sniffling or had a fever. There really is a magic to the holiday season, it’s a magic that exists all year, one that is always there, but often is not tapped into. The magic of the people around you who care about you for who you are. The people who are there for you when you need a laugh or a cry… or you need a someone to change a dirty diaper. Those are the real reasons that the holiday exists.
Jackson, you are the greatest gift I have ever been given. I am proud to be your father… I am happy to be part of your life and most importantly… I love you more than any present, autograph, fitted suit jacket or skinny tie in the world!
Love,
Dad
PS: You know when your Christmas ends like this:
…it was a great one!
A fun filled first Christmas Eve for Jackson… Spending it at Uncle Dusty and Auntie Tricia’s house with family was great!
But we needed to get the little man home in time to get to bed before Santa came. We were home just in time to leave Santa a note:
…Just as Santa (according to NORAD) was leaving Bermuda.
That’s that… As we speak Santa is heading to Philadelphia… I need to get to sleep before he passes over us… Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
Twas the night before Christmas
when all through our home
I searched for rhyming words
to complete this damn poem.
The table was set
With enough spots for the crew,
in hopes that the arguments
Would be quiet and few.
Jackson was stirring (not asleep) in his bed,
while mom and I faced the evening with dread:
There’s presents to wrap and the floor needs to be swept!
And now, thanks to stress, we have cried and we’ve wept.
For there’s only two hours
to get this all done,
Santa is coming
With gifts for our son.
Too late to go elsewhere, if we can’t finish up,
We’ll have to wake Jackson and both of the pups
When what from my worrying eyes should appear?
How about 50 dirty diapers, and a cry of fear!
Mom and I stared with looks of disbelief,
How did this happen.. Oh crap and good grief.
So right for the Clorox, and a bottle of bleach
Mom and I ran for cleaners in reach
“Now sweep it! Now mop it! You missed some right there!
Don’t smush it, don’t smash it, there’s some in your hair!
Use something stronger than water and soap
“Honey,” said hubby, “do you think I’m a dope?”
And then in a twinkling, I knew what to do.
I grabbed an old cell phone to help with the poo.
I called up old Santa and asked for some help
He answered with quickness and let out a yelp.
We spoke no more words, but he was there in a flash,
Right down the chimney he was burned by some ash.
But he was determined to make this okay
Because he loved Jackson, and called Stephanie his bae
Then as if it were magic the diapers were gone and the house was all clean.
A long day ahead I was in need of caffeine.
He laughed as he told us to go off to bed
He had toys to leave and nothing left for us to dread.
So I said to my wife just before I passed out,
“This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.
Tomorrow we’ll wake, and Jax won’t know a thing,
He have so many toys he’ll feel like a king
We did it! We did it! The house is all neat.
Santa had better remembered to wipe his damn feet!”
Finally off to dreamland the both of us dosed.
Until I heard Santa’s voice I supposed.
You’re house is all clean and the presents are there.
But you left me no cookies and your cupboards are bare!
Then I heard him exclaim as he flew from my sight…
Merry Christmas new parents, you’re doing all right!
Anyone who believes that men are equal to women have clearly never seen a man wrap a Christmas present!
So it’s Christmas Eve… Time to start shopping for everyone’s gifts. Thank The Lord that Santa gets all of Jackson’s gifts because he wanted nothing to do with picking out anything.
Two minutes in:
Five minutes later:
Guess I’ll have to go at this alone.
Christmas Eve day and my kid is sick. I’m quite sure this is the real Fragola Family Christmas tradition. Without a doubt, every single Christmas I was sick.
*There was the year I was so out of it that I opened presents from my deathbed (the couch) while Uncle Vinny and Auntie Tricia handed me presents.
*There was the year I had strep throat and a fever during Christmas Eve mass.
*Of course there was the year Santa brought me the sony home stereo with dual tape decks and I was too sick to weak to walk down to the basement to see it all set up.
*And who could forget the year I spent the majority of Christmas puking and had a handful of Imodium as my Xmas dinner.
I’ll say this though, when it comes to being sick I’m a big baby… Stuffy nose? I’m dying. Upset stomach? I have the plague. Fever and a cough? Just fill out my death certificate now.
But Jax… This kid is a trooper. He sounds like Voldemort with all his wheezing… But he’s not letting anything stand in his way of his first Christmas. Stay strong little man… Stay strong!
In keeping with a Stony Hill (Bethel) tradition Jax got to meet Santa on the Stony Hill Fire Truck outside my parents house. He was making his last few rounds before heading back to the North Pole for final XMAS prep.
The kid wasn’t even phased. Can’t scare this little guy with a fat belly and white beard… Take that HoHoHo and save it for someone who is crying. Jax? He just wants a photo op.
It was pretty cute though. Jax was in awe! Just staring at him. It’s was a cool moment since it’s where I grew up. This was where I used to see Santa every Christmas as a kid.
I guess seven and a half months isn’t old enough to get the whole Christmas thing… but you have to start somewhere right? So I started thinking about the holiday itself, not the religious meaning or where Christmas actually began, but just the perspective of a baby who is still trying to figure out the world around him.
I can literally see his little brain working… his inner thoughts are asking: “Dad, why the hell did you plant a tree inside the house?” “Hey guys, did you know that you left some colored nightlights on outside?” “Mom, you know how your always complaining that the dryer eats all the socks… well I think I found the ones you’re looking for. They’re hanging up on the fireplace!”
You spend every waking minute talking to your baby. Teaching them about life, about nature and about how things work. Then all of a sudden, Christmas comes… things are turned upside down, people change… How do you explain this to someone who still puts anything in front of them in their mouth? Where do you begin? What do you say that can spell out what is going on in their own home? The thing is… I don’t think you can… I am going to go under the assumption that the first few Christmases are about the moms and the dads and especially about the grandmas and the grandpas (sounds like a 1970s band).
I am confident that Jax is loving all the extra things lying around the house that are (to him) edible… I know over the past few years the dogs sure have enjoyed eating hundreds of decorations and ornaments. Jackson is going to have to just deal with the fact that a big fat (healthy fat we like to say) is able to break into our house and walk around freely with no consequences. “No Jax the alarm does not work on Santa.” “No Jax Santa will not burn his buttcrack on the fire.” No Jackson, Santa will not be happy if you leave him a dirty diaper.”
400 words later and I haven’t even introduced Jax to the Abominable Snowman, Hermey, Buddy the Elf, or the Wet Bandits… or the fact that we dress up Buster and Max for XMAS too. This is going to be a long Christmas break….
Sorry Sons: Chronicles of a New Dad 