Ming was nearly 12 months old when he experienced his first Christmas. Anthony and I had bought him a big toy truck and one of those small, plastic ride-on cars. Both our families had followed the pillow-case tradition so, after Ming was asleep, I carefully wrapped the two big presents, then, with some difficulty, stuffed them into a pillowcase and put this at the end of his cot.
Then, underneath the Christmas tree, Anthony and I put our presents to each other and lots of little things for Ming. The final touch was to fill a red stocking with chocolates for Ming and sticky-tape it to the mantle-piece, near the tree.
I was so excited that I couldn’t fall asleep until around 2am, then I woke up at 4am, still excited! So, by the time Ming and Anthony woke up, after 8am, I was almost delirious with anticipation and exhaustion. I couldn’t wait for Ming to see the pillow-case but, when he finally did get up, he didn’t even notice it – and I had to point it out to him.
We all clambered onto the big bed and emptied the pillow-case out. Ming looked at the two enormous wrapped presents and then gave us his wise-owl look, as if to say, What the hell is going on?
“Father Christmas has left you two presents, Ming,” I said, excitedly but he still didn’t respond. He just sucked on his dummy and watched us grin at him, probably thinking we’d gone slightly mad. I suppose I’d expected him to just magically absorb the Christmas presents thing and, I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed by his lack of spirit. Even when I showed him a picture of Santa with a big sack of gifts on his back, he remained impassive.
“Open one of them for him,” Anthony whispered, so I began to gently tear the wrapping paper off the toy truck to expose one of its wheels.
Well that was the only trigger needed. As soon as Ming saw that wheel, he spat his dummy out and his bewildered expression transformed instantaneously into an enormous grin. “TWUCK!” he repeated over and over, tearing at the wrapping paper ecstatically. Even if I’d been able to anticipate that moment and had a camera ready it would have been impossible to capture Ming’s glee when the truck was finally exposed in all its glory.
Once Ming had opened that first present, he very quickly cottoned onto the idea and went crazy for more and his continued delight was contagious.
We most certainly set a precedent that first Christmas. Its magic permeated Ming’s psyche so effectively that when, the following year, I once again woke up at 4am, it wasn’t my excitement, it was Ming’s that woke me. He was standing next to the bed, patting my cheek with one hand and holding a very full pillowcase with his other hand. His little face seemed to glow in the dim light of dawn.
“Mummy,” he whispered seriously, “Fava Quistmust happinded again!”
jmgoyder 
How wonderfu to experience that first Christmas. You and Anthony must have been just as delighted as Ming.
None of us have forgotten its magic!
You’re a wonderful story teller. I love how you capture kidspeak
He was only saying a couple of words then so it was lovely – thanks!
Love this story – I love Christmas and Ming’s enthusiam is the pure embodiment of it for me
– My youngest got a castle one year with all the little guys with shields etc. and he danced around it so happy — there is nothing more joyous than kids who understand Christmas
Dancing around the castle – oh yeah!
Perfect. I think I miss those times the most. The dawn ritual of waking Mom and Dad, dancing kids beside the bed, like they had forgotten to pee, waiting for the words…go get your stockings!
xo
Your description is perfect!
A nice story that most of can relate to in some way. 😉
Those were the days!
And now my are grown. That magic has gone but not the specialness of Christmas, our Saviour’s birth , holds us together. I just love this sorry though, so special for you to recall.
Thank you Brenda!
Is it not a joy to watch the little ones at that time of the year..? I love their faces, the joy, the ripping of paper carefully wrapped, the excitement is so catchy, if my Grand kids sleep to long I go and wake them… and make them wake their parents to come to the tree… 5 am is always a good time for me by then I’ve had a cuppa and I’m ready for things to happen… Just dawned on me why my own kids don’t want me near them early on Christmas day…
You sound like such a great dad and granddad!
Wonderful story!
It was so funny at the time!
Ahhh Christmas is indeed for kids! A great story Julie xo
A wonderful time.
I LOVE these stories of Ming. Did you write these down when they happened, or do you just have amazing recall? They are fabulous!
I cheated a bit – wrote a parenting column for a magazine for a couple of years, years ago now and have only just found them on a thumb drive!
Wonderful post again filled with love, togetherness and warmth. I love reading about your “family love story” – as kids where we too smart for our own good. Amazing how kids can put think things together without any really thinking and they always manage to find the right words to go with their actions. Love this,
I love the words of little children!
That magical time when a child’s world is pure wonder and joy — all over a toy” twuck” 🙂
Loved this story Julie 🙂 xo
He was crazy about twucks from then on!
Oh, this is adorable!
I’ll never forget it.
How cute! Christmas is so magical for children.
My favourite time of year!
Yes their first Christmas is so special and us parents get more excited then the kids……….in my family we leave pillow cases out for Santa to fill with presents during the night………
Ming will still be getting a pillowcase this Christmas even though he is 18 – haha!
Lovely–brought back lots of memories. I love holidays.
I absolutely love Christmas and the pillow case ritual – I am already thinking of what to put in Ming’s this year – hehe!
What’s more magical is your memory of it… Beautiful! 😉
It definitely set a precedent!
Loved this story. What do the pillow cases signify? We don’t use them in the US.
Oh – you put an empty pillow case on the end of the kids’s bed and in the morning it is full of presents.
What wonderful memories!!
It was amazing!