Holiday Anathema

The Christmas season isn't exactly my favorite time of the year. For starters, it's so darn commercialized. I'm not being scrooge-ish but seriously, how on earth can one do some serious soul-searching amid all the parties, events, presents, food, alcohol, sweets, and traffic?

A strong case in point would be an incident just 2 days ago. Joel and I decided to do some last minute Christmas shopping sans the kids at Trinoma. We anticipated the traffic and the huge crowds hence we went as soon as it opened.

By 11 A.M., we were starved and decided to have our lunch early. Due to opposing tastes, we had to go our separate ways. I ordered take-out from Taco Bell, and he ordered his lunch to go from his favorite steakhouse. We decided to meet at the food court.

I got there first and got the best banquet seat in the house. Since he was taking too long, I started nibbling away. Just then, a mom, her daughter (about 6 or 7), and her yaya (local term for nursemaid or nanny) approached me and asked if I was with someone so I said yes. Minutes later, they went back and asked me the same question. I, of course, gave the same answer.

I wouldn't have mind having them but there were about a hundred vacant tables in the food court. The kid throws me a piercing glance followed by a huge tantrum then started yelling at her mom and threatened that if she cannot sit there, she's not eating at all.

I remain unfazed amid all the drama. I'm not moving my fat ass for some spoiled rotten kid.

Joel arrives and little miss spoiled brat decides to shut up. The mom-in-despair, the spoiled rotten kid, and the dumbfounded yaya then settle for a table near ours. The spoiled little beast throws me piercing glances every now and then while showing off her new Winx and Bratz dolls to her yaya.

I swear I wanted to gouge her eyes out. Joel calms me by telling me that she isn't my problem, she's her mother's problem. Which is so true making the brat in me shut up.

I've always believed that the spoiled breed is 'made' and not 'born'. No baby is born spoiled. Spoiled rottenness is not innate.

Bringing up and rearing children is a huge responsibility and to a point, a major obligation that all parents should commit themselves to upholding.

I may not be the perfect mother but one thing I'm most definitely proud of is that my boys are far from spoiled brats. They are the most amazing creatures on the planet and of that, I'm quite certain (proud mama ).

Nonetheless it's still the season to be jolly so in keeping with the times and so as not to wreck my sons' super festive mood, I'm desperately trying to keep a smile on my already wrinkled face.

Christmas has somehow lost its true essence amid all the material indulgences we employ to celebrate it.

I'm still going with the scientific theory that the Lord was born sometime in the summer because apparently there was no hay in December in Nazareth.

I can't wait till it's REALLY 'Christ'mas.