From Santa letters to school uniforms: a little bit of holiday reflections
In her column, Tracy shares experiences and lessons learnt as she navigates life and grows with her two boys. To share your views email Tracy on [email protected]
Image: File
My boys in the holidays gave me the flames
Image: Dad
The school holidays started with the kind of enthusiasm only a seven-year-old can muster. Every morning, without fail, Boeta woke up at 6 a.m., bright-eyed and ready to take on the world.
Full of energy, ideas, and questions, he would chatter at a hundred words per second, and most days, his baby brother slept through it all like a tiny angel, though some mornings even the little one joined in.
But let me be honest: as much as I love these early-morning chats, there were days I woke up frustrated, silently begging for just one morning where we could sleep past seven. I swear, getting ready for the day sometimes felt like preparing for work without the pay, the coffee breaks, or the office chatter.
The mornings rolled into breakfast requests, then the inevitable snack demands, with Boeta’s endless curiosity and energy leading the charge. And somewhere in the mix, there was Christmas prep. Since my kids still believe in Santa, we had to make it special: letters, wishlists, and tiny conspiracies about elves.
One rule we never budged on - Santa only brings one gift. Poor elves can only do so much. At seven, Boeta is starting to understand the “reason for the season.” Bless his little soul, explaining it gently while letting him believe in the wonder of it all.
Meanwhile, we officially unlocked a new stage with baby.
His dad was teaching him everyone’s names, and when he got to mine, he proudly declared: “Mamma’s name is Tracy-Lynn…”
I don’t know what swayed his tiny little mind, but somehow “Tracy-Lynn” became “Mamma-Lynn.” And just like that, I have a new title in the household. Adorable, confusing, and slightly hilarious all at once welcome to the stage of mistaken-but-cute names!
Now here we are, the last week of the holidays, and my mind is spinning as I prep for the new school year. Grade 2 for Boeta, creche for the baby, it all feels like a whirlwind of forms, uniforms, and schedules. And speaking of uniforms… can someone please explain the actual world pricing of school clothes?
I bought stationery back in December to avoid January stress, and I thought I was being clever, but the shorts and shirts? Eish!
As we fit on the clothes, Boeta turned to me, eyes wide, excitement practically buzzing from his every pore: “I’m excited to go back to school, Mommy!” I smiled, letting his enthusiasm wash over me, silently knowing that in a few weeks, those “arrrggg I’m still tired” mornings would make a comeback.
These holidays, my mind has been all over the place - sometimes relaxed and blissfully content - other times frazzled and wishing for the return of routine. I don’t know if I’m the only one, but this week, I officially hit my “can’t wait for school to start” feeling.
Don’t get me wrong, I cherish the little moments: watching Boeta’s imagination run wild, his baby brother giggling at the smallest things, the quiet cuddles before the chaos of the day, and yes, even the hilarity of being called “Mamma-Lynn.”
But after weeks of nonstop activity, early mornings, endless snacks, and holiday planning, I’m also ready to reclaim a bit of my sanity.
Yet, even as I count down the days, there’s a bittersweet edge. These holidays, like all of them, are fleeting.
Soon, we’ll be back in the rhythm of school runs, homework, and routines, and I know I’ll miss these chaotic mornings, the spontaneous chats, and the pure joy of watching my little ones dive into life with boundless energy.
So, for now, I’ll soak in every last sunrise, every giggle, every snack demand, and every new name milestone, because while the countdown to school is on, the memories of these holidays and the rise of “Mamma-Lynn”will linger long after the uniforms are packed away…because Lord knows as much as I cant wait for school to begin, I know I will miss them when they not around me again, thats motherhood for you right there.