There’s definitely something to be said for having a child who doesn’t yet “get” the concept of Christmas. Having turned 2 just two months ago, my son is still in that wide-eyed stage where riding up and down escalators and turning on and off lights are more exciting than winning a free cruise to the Caribbean. In fact, escalators and light switches are more appealing than the pleasantly plump man in the bright red suit with the big sack of toys. Although I look forward to many years of experiencing the magic of Christmas through the innocent eyes of my little guy, I have to admit that I found the positive side of his ignorance this year. This has overshadowed the impatient part of me that kept thinking, “When is he going to understand?? Let’s get on with toy lists and marked-up catalogs, Santa photo shoots, fake reindeer droppings on the front lawn, and all the white lies that go with it already!” Here’s why:

• Gifts were fantastically easy to buy. All I did was look for age-appropriate toys he didn’t already have, not to mention I did so several weeks ago. It’s not as if he knows what he wants yet, nor can he express it. Let’s not fail to mention that as the holidays are fast approaching, he’s not going to become fickle and change his mind about what he wants. Nope, he’s just not there yet. Gifts purchased: Check. Gifts wrapped: Check. Yahoo!
• Whether or not he finds four or 40 gifts under the tree won’t make a difference. He may not even be interested in unwrapping any of them anyway, especially if a light needs to be turned on or his favorite Baby Einstein DVD is playing in the background. So I opted for four. Times are tough, not that anyone needs a reminder of our rather sad, unhealthy economy.
• No need for hiding gifts in a house that has very limited hiding space. He has no clue that the shopping bags in my closet contain shiny new toys with enough lights to illuminate a small country – not to mention enough sounds to drive a roomful of the most patient saints over the edge. He’s more interested in pulling my shoes in and out of boxes and unzipping the various pocketbooks I have piled on the floor than examining what’s in the assortment of bags about 11 inches away from him.
• I dressed him in whatever the heck I wanted to for his holiday photo – and he was adorably agreeable. I keep hearing from friends of older children that not only do their kids dictate what they’ll wear (usually cool, trendy jeans with big holes in the knees and very UN-holiday-ish sweaters), but they scrutinize the proofs and throw a fit if they deem the photo unworthy of printing, let along delivering to friends and family.  If I was in a zany mood, I could have gussied him up as a little pointy-eared elf or a puffy, red-suited Santa. But I wasn’t, so he got off easy in a handsome Christmas sweater and comfy jeans. But when I think of the endless possibilities …
• I can stuff his stocking and pile his gifts under the tree whenever I feel like it. OK, this isn’t really a big perk, but it is one, nonetheless. I already stuffed his stocking with dollar store goodies, and won’t have to make sure he’s fast asleep on Christmas Eve to pile his gifts (OK, his SMALL pile of gifts) under the tree. I can simply drag them down the stairs in one or two shopping bags on Christmas morning, or even while he’s in the kitchen demanding his sip cup, which will most likely come prior to his interest in gift-opening.
• No waiting on a long line at a store in frigid temps at 3 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving to purchase the most popular, trendiest toy of the season.
• No returns. I highly doubt he’ll shake his head and turn his back on any of the gifts anyone gives him. And if he does, that’s actually not such a bad thing. I can simply put the shunned goody away until mid-February, when he will have lost interest in all his other dozens of toys and the winter doldrums will undoubtedly reach an all-time high. That’s when I become the best mama in the world, pulling out a bagful of “new” toys he thinks I magically created in the closet. Did I say ignorance is bliss?

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I can’t wait to take him to the mall for his first real visit with Santa – when he actually wants to sit on his lap and beam for the camera. And I can’t wait until he asks for an unreasonable amount of toys, so when I end up waiting on line at 3 a.m. with a cast of thousands at some store, and when I have to hide the gifts in every nook and cranny of our small home, it’ll all be worth it just to see the elated expression on his face Christmas morning. I have a lot to look forward to, but this year, I think I’ll just be thankful for what may be my last year to revel in the ignorance of it all. Happy holidays, everyone!