When the boys were little we never put any presents under the Christmas tree until after they had been put to bed on Christmas Eve. As parents we didn’t want to put the temptation to open their gifts early right out in front of them for even a few days.
And so, once we were assured that TJ and his brother were asleep, we quietly pulled their gifts out from hiding and laid them under the tree. One year their grandparents bought the train that now is a part of our Christmas decorations. Joe and I carefully put it together and placed the other gifts a little off to the side. As we “tested” the train, we hoped that they wouldn’t wake up as it click-clacked around on the track. The following morning we slipped out of bed and down the stairs ahead of the boys. Joe started the train up and then hit the button for its whistle to sound. It was a Hallmark moment if ever there was one! The boys came down the stairs, literally rubbing the sleep from their eyes, to see the Christmas tree lit and all of the presents around it and the train chugging around underneath it all!
I know every parent loves seeing the excitement in their children’s eyes as they see the presents under the Christmas tree for that first time, and I’m no different. I would use as many different colors of wrapping paper to conceal their gifts and loved tying them up with bows. It made everything look more festive and special. I was always amazed at how even the smallest number of gifts seemed to multiply once we put them under the tree.
But this year it is much different. Unlike some military families waiting for their service men and women to return, we won’t put any gifts under the tree to wait until TJ makes it home. Instead we choose to send Christmas to him. We wanted him to have it there on Christmas day. So, we thought carefully about what was small enough to be brought home in his duffle bag, and we looked for things that he could “consume” before he leaves Kuwait in another month. The final consideration was making everything fit into a flat-rate box from the post office.
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| TJ's gifts - packaged and ready to go! |
When I wrapped his gifts this year I simply used a few rolls of paper that I still had from last year. To make it easier to fit into the box, I didn’t put any bows or ribbon onto any of TJ’s gifts. And, then there was the jigsaw puzzle effort to get everything to fit into the box. I’m still not sure when I learned how to do that but once again, somehow I squeezed everything in and got the box lid to fold down flat! I laid a final piece of wrapping paper over all of the gifts and put one bow on the very top.
All of this took place the very first week of December. Joe took on the task of waiting in line at the post office to mail Christmas to TJ. And, that brings me around to the part about waiting until Christmas morning for the boys to see their gifts. Unfortunately whenever a package is mailed to TJ, we are required to complete a Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note. Each and every item must be listed along with its value. This is then taped to the outside of the shipping box. That was probably the hardest part for me to deal with this year. How could any of it be a surprise for him when he would see all of his gifts listed before he would even open the box?
A few days ago TJ emailed to tell us his box had arrived. He thanked us for everything and said how much he appreciated all of it. That stinker! He didn’t even wait until Christmas morning!
Then yesterday a flat-rate box arrived at our door. It was from TJ! He had sent Christmas to us, just as we had done for him! We had no idea if he’d wrapped the gift(s) that were inside the box. Joe and I pondered if we should open it or just put it under the Christmas tree as it was. And then something caught my eye. It was that crazy Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note! I read, out loud, the list of things our flat-rate box contained and then I reached for the scissors, cut the tape and opened it up!
This year, without waiting for Christmas morning, we’ve exchanged our Christmas gifts to each other through US postal flat-rate boxes. No sleepy-eyed boys coming down from their beds to presents under the tree, not even a lot of fancy wrappings and bows on the gifts. Just two flat-rate boxes crossing the ocean; one going to Kuwait to a soldier far from home, and one making its way home to that soldier’s parents. But within those two boxes more love was exchanged than the largest amount of gifts any Christmas tree ever held beneath its boughs. This year I’ve learned that memories are more precious than ever and Christmas gifts are just as special even if they are concealed within a US postal flat-rate box!
Merry Christmas, TJ! We miss you - and we love you!
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