December 2, 2005

Silicon Valley Mom

Success at Christmas is about setting the right goals

By Dona Nichols
Times Columnist

With Christmas about three weeks away, I realize it’s too late for me to do my shopping early. Thankfully, I still have time to put on those extra unwanted pounds. I’ll have to double up on the eggnog if I’m to beat last year’s net gain.

I’m always amazed at people who try to diet during the holidays. Only a true masochist would attempt weight loss when the temptation is greatest.

For me, success at anything is all about goal setting. If your goal at Christmastime is to gain weight, you’ve just set yourself a highly achievable goal.

Completing my Christmas shopping early stopped being a goal two years ago, and for good reason too. I kept forgetting what I had bought and where I had hidden it. I’m still finding toys I bought for my kids years ago.

The Candyland board game I just discovered would’ve been great had I remembered to give it to my twins four years ago when I bought it. That’s what I get for hiding gifts at the bottom of my ironing basket.

Of course my husband, Ralph, says give it to them anyway. I can just imagine the looks on their faces … the same reaction Jessica Simpson might have after receiving a turtleneck sweater for Christmas.

No more Hungry Hungry Hippo or Candyland games for my kids. No more anatomically correct baby dolls that wet. No more play phones or Tickle Me Elmos.

The games my children want now require two different types of lithium batteries, a secret code and voice recognition approval before you can play.

The gifts get bigger and more expensive each year. Thankfully there aren’t as many. Christmas 2004 will be remembered as the year of the unicycle for Dylan and Alexis, which is why 2005 will be remembered as the year of the broken wrist, elbow and tail bone.

My latest goal in gift buying is to avoid any present with more than two parts. Last year I made the mistake of buying Alexis the Costco bead kit with thousands … actually 10,000 glass beads in every color, shape and size. When these little beads spill out onto the hardwood floor, the ultrasonic pinging sound can be heard throughout the house.

As uncomfortable as it is to step on one of these crippling beads, it’s not nearly as painful as the big yellow bead the dog passed the day after Christmas.

Another of my holiday goals is to meet as many of my Evergreen neighbors as possible, which is why I’ll be working at the “Night of Lights” celebration on Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. at Raging Waters.

This annual event has become one of my favorites because it’s a reminder of just how wonderful it is to live in the Evergreen community. Come by and say, “Hi.” I’ll be the one with a cookie in my mouth.

Dona Nichols teaches journalism at San Jose State University and does stand-up comedy on the side at the Improv in downtown San Jose. She lives in Evergreen with her husband and three children.