When Mom asked what I wanted for Christmas, I couldn't decide what to tell her. There were two things I wanted—desperately! There was that sweet little red-eared gray stuffed elephant I'd seen at Krom's Department Store and the gorgeous grown-up white angora sweater on the mannequin at Scott's Smartwear. The problem was I didn't want to admit that, at thirteen, I still wanted a kid's toy. So I told her the sweater was the thing I wanted most. She said it was awfully grown up and the subject was dropped.
Figuring the sweater was a "no-go," I decided to explain that there was this little elephant...but Mom asked me point blank didn't I think I was too old for such things. I gave up talking about it but I didn't give up wishing. I dreamed of gray elephants and white angora sweaters...elephants in angora sweaters...elephants singing in angora sweaters...dancing!
"How about some new pajamas?" Mom asked.
"Okay." If she was looking for enthusiasm, she'd come to the wrong place!
"Christmas is not about getting, anyway, Mom said. "It's about giving."
Forget it, I thought, Christmas was going to be a big bust!
On Christmas morning, Mom handed me a pretty package. I figured, for sure, it was a new pair of pajamas and couldn't believe my eyes when I found, instead, the white angora sweater. I guessed, from Mom's choice of gifts, that she was telling me to grow up.
But later that day, just before bedtime, Mom walked into the living room where I was sitting—caught between the confusing world of growing up and that of childhood—staring in wonder at the Christmas lights. Her hands were behind her back and she was smiling.
"I thought you needed this more than a pair of new pajamas," she said, as she brought out the little red-eared gray elephant and placed it in my hands.
I can see the twinkle in my mother's eyes, still, as I think back to that Christmas when she gave me the greatest gift of all—the knowledge that, no matter how old you are, it's always okay to be a kid at heart.
I wish all you grown-up kids out there a heartfelt Christmas and thank my mom for her fun-loving spirit, her wisdom, and her love.
Be sure to visit my other Christmas Memory "Christmas Memories of Double Fudge Cakes" on my Free 1950's Recipe Blog, Charming Vintage Recipes! Thanks for stopping by!
For more Pink Saturday posts, go to Bev's blog: How Sweet the Sound!
Awe, what a sweet story and what a sweet mom ;)
ReplyDeleteIt's a precious story....both our memories involve our moms...I'll be posting mine in a little while...come over!!
ReplyDeletexo bj
This is just the sweetest story! I love it and it's message! Thank you so much for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Amy
Coralie this story brought tears to my eyes, how wonderful your mother was. She knew this was what your heart desired, a little elephant, the sweater sounded gorgeous, but as a child the elephant would've been incredible. I bet you sure did cuddle that little critter all night smiling. Lovely pink Saturday Post.
ReplyDeleteHappy Pink Saturday
ª"˜¨¯¯¨˜"ª¤(¯`*•.¸(¯`*•.. HEIDI ..•*´¯)¸.•*´¯)¤ª"˜¨¯¯¨˜"ª
What a sweet story - what a wonderful mother!!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
You had a good mom like I did. How astute to include both a grown up girly present and something for the still child!
ReplyDeleteYes, of course, what a sweet story, I like it!
ReplyDeleteHughs...Luna
What a sweet story, and it is wonderful that you hold it so dear to your heart. Thank you for sharing it. Mothers somehow instinctively know just what we are thinking and struggling with. That is worth more than all the tea in China!
ReplyDeleteMaureen
What a wonderful memory!!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Marilyn
What a sweet memory!!Thank you for sharing that special story with us!
ReplyDeletexo Tami
This is a perfect mom story, how she surprised you with the pretty sweater AND the toy.
ReplyDeleteShe done good, as they say.
This was a most wonderful story..of love and dreams and Christmas wishes.. I love it and thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDear Coralie
ReplyDeleteThat is such a sweet story and memory to keep from your childhood.
Thanks for such a wonderful childhood story.
ReplyDeleteRhonda
What a wonderful story. Coralie, thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteSuch a precious story. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a sweet little story, and something like that happened to me when I was small! All I wanted was this yellow cardigan with shiney buttons on. This was quite late on Christmas Eve when I told her this, but the next morning, there was this cardigan! I never found out until I was grown-up that she had gone into town, just before the shop had closed for the Holiday, that she had gone into town and bought it!
ReplyDeleteHello, Coralie,
ReplyDeleteThis was such a wonderful Christmas memory!! How wise and caring your mom was. She was an absolute doll to get you your heart's desire, both elephant and sweater! Have a lovely weekend, sweet friend! Vicki
On this first Saturday of December ♥Jappy Pink Saturday♥. I was away for a while and sure missed running around the blogs arnd seeing all of the goodies everyone was sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for making my morning so much fun. Hoping that you and those you care about spend a wonderful weekend making memories that will last a lifetime☺
On this cold winter Pink Saturday, your story warmed my heart! Delightful!
ReplyDeleteJil
Oh Coralee what a great memory! Love it. Mollye
ReplyDeleteYou brought tears to my eyes, Coralie! What a wonderful story. Your Mom understood that difficult time. I remember wanting a doll, even though I was too old. I just wanted to cling to childhood a bit longer.
ReplyDeleteHappy Pink Saturday!
xoxo
Claudia
Aw! So I'm not the only one who thinks Elephants are cute!? Jenn from Sweet Eye Candy Creations has a Pink stuffed one on her blog and I about fainted when I saw it! ♥
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely story, and I agree, we all need to keep the child within alive! Thanks for sharing your sweet story. And thank you for your jello recipe you emailed me also! Happy Pink Saturday! Suzie
ReplyDeleteOh Coralie..
ReplyDeleteHappy Pink Saturday. You brought such tears to my eyes this morning. I love that story. How precious it is.
Please stop by and ready my Christmas memory. It will tug at your heart strings too.
I love the picture you shared of the tree. It is just perfect for your story. Thanks so much for sharing your pink post with me today.
Country hugs...Sherry
Thank you for sharing this story. I believe too, that it's okay to be a kid at heart. How sweet of your mother. Have a great weekend! Twyla
ReplyDeleteOh Coralie, this wonderful christmas- memory of you brought honestly tears in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful story and so well told.
And you are right, this was the best possible christmas- gift.
Happy St. Nikolaus day
Janine
This is such a precious memory, Coralie! I loved reading it. Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteHappy Pink Saturday!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Love that story. What a great Mother you have. Have a great Pink Saturday. Blessings, Martha
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! I've a lump in my throat. What a wise woman your momma was! Happy Pink Saturday!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful memories, I love your story and mostly your final words.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this beautiful post.
Oh Mother's know best, that was so perfect. I bet it was all such a huge surprise to you, what a wonderful story of growing up, and staying young. Your mother probably didn't want to see you growing up so fast, same as us today with our own children, where does the time go. Happy Pink Saturday, Char
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story! You were so lucky to have her for a mother.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
I enjoyed reading your post coralie....I look forward to visiting you often.....Thank you for stopping by The Christmas Toy Tea to see me and the toys!...Hugs, Jennifer
ReplyDeleteBeautifull story, moms are the best
ReplyDeleteOMGosh! What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing that with us! Happy Pink Saturday!
ReplyDeleteBack Porch Blessings,
Rebecca
Yes, I say too:
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story, coralie.
Hughs....Luna
That was delightful! And I still, at 30-something, want the cute little stuffed elephants! lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing & Happy Pink Saturday!!
Such a wonderful story. We all need to feel like a child at times. So glad you had a mom who knew that too.
ReplyDeleteHappy Pink Saturday.
What a sweet memory. Christmas is a magical time of year and is best seen through the eyes of a child. My little girl is not so little anymore, she's 17, but I still try to do fun things to continue to make special memories.
ReplyDeleteOne year she wanted a black peacoat so much, that's all she could talk about. I wrapped it at the very bottom of this giant gift bag filled up with some of my shoes to make it feel heavy. I had a bunch of tissue covering everything and at the very top was a black leather jacket of mine. She didn't recognize it as mine and thought that that was her gift. As she was trying it on she had the funniest look on her face. Well it wasn't so funny, more like confused. I couldn't hold it in any longer and I was starting to feel bad. So I told her to dig deeper in the bag. The look on her face when she pulled out the very coat that she had wanted, that fit like a glove, was priceless. She still loves her peacoat and wears it all the time.
Oh Coralie!! What a sweet, sweet Christmas memory, I am so very glad you shared it, It brought tears to my eyes, good tears though, and I needed some of those :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by to say hi today, I wish you the very best & brightest Christmas season, filled with wonder and Miracles....
What a sweet, sweet story! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteCathy ♥
Oh, i love that story. Your mom sounds like a gem. I could go for a white angora sweater:) Pink Blessings!
ReplyDeleteGwen
Hello Coralie, I am finally sitting down and getting a chance to visit my friends. I am sorry I haven't been by. This week was full up but now the house is decorated and the dinner party I was giving is done. Would you believe I forgot to take photos. sigh.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your pink Saturday story sooo much. Your mom was a very special person. As I read your story I was thinking, please let this be a happy ending. I'm so glad it was. There is a moral to this story for sure.
Hugs, Jeanne
I just found this story now and I love it. You had a wonderful mom!
ReplyDelete