The annual agony of evening out the piles of presents has begun.
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My trips up and down the step ladder are in full swing, although the need to hide the existence of the parcels is now null and void.
My girls, at my request, provided me with Christmas lists many weeks ago.
I was pretty certain I had completely spoilt them with everything under the sun, so I was relieved to find a wish list could quite easily be produced.
We are, of course, working on the assumption that they have been very nice this year.
Tiani presented hers on sparkly silver card, with butterflies hole-punched along one edge, in yellow relief, and purple glitter glue underlining each item.
To prove my baby is growing up, her list included make-up brushes, perfume and an iTunes card.
To prove my baby is not completely grown-up, her list also included fairy lights, a squishy ball and craft.
Yasinta presented her Christmas list on a floral piece of writing paper decorated with stickers.
Of the 12 items recorded, five were related to Harry Potter, as she is on her second reading of the series.
She also listed a brand name drink bottle and toiletries, along with a giant inflatable peacock for the pool.
Katianna’s list was written in red pen on a piece of white A4 copy paper, quickly snatched from the printer, and looked a lot like a brain storming exercise.
Obviously in study mode, she included an ergonomic desk chair, new pencil case and a nice diary.
These inventories have helped me put together a little stash of goodies for each of the girls for Christmas, but the piles don’t look equal, nor do the receipts add up to the same amount.
She did allow herself the leisure of listing the next novel in her favourite series and a gift voucher to buy some new clothes.
My eldest sensibly spent an equal amount of energy telling me exactly what she didn’t want; no more earrings, perfume, pool toys or Barbie dolls – yes, I did have to be told.
These inventories have helped me put together a little stash of goodies for each of the girls for Christmas, but the piles don’t look equal, nor do the receipts add up to the same amount.
With Yasinta needing a taller set of wheels and Katianna requesting a custom coloured chair, Tiani’s doona cover seems a bit ho-hum.
As always with children though, it’s ages and stages, with the aim of it all evening out in the end.
