The Cure for the Hangover

With all the excitement on Christmas night, my three-year-old son, Johnny, couldn`t sleep.

"Want to snuggle with me?" I asked.

"Yes, Dada," Johnny said. He crawled into bed and promptly head-butted me. "OK Dada," he said, pulling the sheets up to his chin, "Now you get out."

He head-butted me again, and I felt a bit like the guys from The Hangover:


With all the presents, Johnny also didn`t quite make it to the potty, and instead settled for going No. 2 in his underwear while playing toys in the living room.

His mommy said, "Remember Johnny, where do you go potty?"

Johnny said, "On the floor in the living room."

At least he`s honest.

Meanwhile, my wife teased the kids that they didn`t get any lumps of coal. Our five-year-old daughter, Belle, said, "Mommy, you`re the silly Big Dipper."

During Advent, I tried to emphasize to the kids that it is better to give than receive, and that it was important to be on the Santa's Nice List. The kids did pretty well. Until we opened presents.


Then every time their uncle handed out a present that was NOT for Johnny, my son folded his arms, stuck out his lower lip, puffed out his cheeks and bent his brows into a "V."

"Dada, I`m SO mad," Johnny declared. "Look at my Mad Face!"

We all tried not to laugh, which of course just made the Mad Face more pronounced.

We finally made it through Christmas without anyone puking for the first time in three years. However, three days later, breakfast didn`t agree with me. I puked.

Belle made me a clay bracelet, "For you to feel better, Daddy." I felt better right away. Before bed, she approached me and said, "Do you feel all better, Daddy?"

"Yes, thanks. Your bracelet did the trick."

Belle said, "OK, but remember: Tomorrow when you have breakfast, don`t eat so many blueberries. Just do what I did, take enough to make a smiley face. You see, that way you know you won`t puke!"

"Thanks, Dr. Belle."

"You`re welcome."

Now, we don't have to worry about puking on New Year's Eve. Just eat a smiley face of blueberries and you're good. Happy New Year!