The Christmas Kid
Southern Living|December 2017

For one sweet season, he forgets to be a grouch.

Rick Bragg
The Christmas Kid

THEY SAY CHRISTMAS is for children. It sounds pretty to say it.

Me, I am not so sure. My big brother, Sam, is in his dotage, and I am fairly certain Christmas is for him.

The very young wait and fret, almost twitching, for a single, glittering moment. They tear feverishly into a package it took their grandmother an hour to adorn. They watch their parents untangle miles of lights, gasp and coo when the bulbs blink on, and then are bored stupid within three minutes and go back to playing on their phones. They gnaw the head off a chocolate Rudolph, devour seven sugar-sprinkled cookies and the roof off a gingerbread house, and then begin to jerk and vibrate in such a glucose overdose it’s a wonder they don’t strap on their Guardians of the Galaxy rocket boots and shoot for the moon.

This story is from the December 2017 edition of Southern Living.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 2017 edition of Southern Living.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SOUTHERN LIVINGView All
Thumbs Up
Southern Living

Thumbs Up

Three twists on the classic chocolate-filled cookie

time-read
1 min  |
December 2024
SUPPERTIME: Elegant Made Easy
Southern Living

SUPPERTIME: Elegant Made Easy

Tender braised short ribs are fancy enough for Christmas dinner or any special occasion. Bonus: They're even make-ahead

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
A Big Easy Christmas
Southern Living

A Big Easy Christmas

Let the good times roll in New Orleans

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2024
TIMELESS DECOR: Good as Old
Southern Living

TIMELESS DECOR: Good as Old

Natural elements and folksy finds infuse this 1886 Georgia cottage with warm-fuzzy charm

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024
Classic Pattern, New Spirit
Southern Living

Classic Pattern, New Spirit

Four tastemakers put their fanciful spins on an old-faithful Spode collection

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
MEET HER IN ST. LOUIS
Southern Living

MEET HER IN ST. LOUIS

Trimmed with ribbon and wrapped in wallpaper, designer Amy Studebaker's 1950s Missouri home proves there's no such thing as too much of a good thing especially this time of year

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
A TENNESSEE TREASURE
Southern Living

A TENNESSEE TREASURE

For nearly 115 years, The Hermitage Hotel has been Nashville's holiday mainstay

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
The Powerg Poinsettias
Southern Living

The Powerg Poinsettias

A little while back, a neighbor knocked on my door, hoisting up a ruby red plant so enormous it concealed her completely from midriff to head. I was new to the area, and this was her way of welcoming me. A poinsettia, vividly colored, overflowing its pot, and endearingly ill-timed-it wasn't even Thanksgiving yet. But the plant seemed to brighten up the whole world just a bit, as if daring anyone to reject the early holiday spirit. You could say it kick-started my love for the leafy shrub and what it seems to represent: a simple kind of goodwill.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
WRAPPED WITH CARE
Southern Living

WRAPPED WITH CARE

In San Antonio, Christmas isn't complete without a plate of steaming tamales on every family's table

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2024
PARTY LIKE IT'S 1984
Southern Living

PARTY LIKE IT'S 1984

Entertaining now is quite different than it was 40 years ago, but our recipes stand the test of time

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2024