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Hey Dad,

We're in the Christmas countdown.

Last night we had our third advent night and then slept in the family room underneath the Christmas tree—a Wilson tradition. That' s when I was visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past. I know, it sounds hard to believe. But it happened … kind of.

Somewhere around midnight, I found myself staring into the faces of our sleeping children, thinking about how much they have grown and how one day soon they will be lying around their own Christmas trees with their children. That's when I was visited.

Maybe it was the soft glow of Christmas lights, the quiet stillness, or the sound of their breathing that set the stage for what happened next. But right then I heard the unmistakable voice of the Ghost of Christmas Past … or the garlic toast that I had for dinner.

All it said was, "You've kind of been a creep to your children, you know?"

Ouch.

I thought about it for a minute but knew the voice was right. I had been a creep the last few days. I didn't mean to be … it just kind of happens at Christmas.

Things start out fun, but then the kids get excited and start bouncing off the walls, making messes, and getting hurt, and I become Mr. Stop-That.

You know, "Don't do that Sam … Settle down Ike … Ben, quit acting so goofy …" We dads do it a lot, mostly without realizing it.

After the ghost vanished, I decided to take a Christmas break from holding the reigns so tightly. For the next seven days, I'm going to let the kids make more messes, act excited, bounce off the walls and each other, stay up later than usual, possibly break a few ornaments, and enjoy the last week before Christmas.

I'm going to care less about my little plans and vision of what I think an advent night should look like and let them determine what it becomes. In short, we're just going to enjoy each other and Christmas.

How about you Dad? Do you find yourself being Mr. Stop-That? It's not too late to change. These last seven days before Christmas, put away your expectations and enjoy your family.

You 'da dad!

©Copyright Todd Wilson, 2003. Used by permission.

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