I would like to write a little
piece on Christmas. I recently read a post on Facebook that reads as follows: Can't stand that Christmas has become so commercialized!! We
are forced to spend crazy amounts of money on our kids because if you don't
they would wonder why everyone else got stuff! The prices of things has just
gotten outrageous!! My heart goes out to the families who will have nothing for
Christmas! I know a few myself! I will not be bragging on here how much I am
spending and how many gifts my kids are getting out of respect for those who
can't even buy even one!! Lets remember what Christmas is really about!!! Well, I am going
to spend the next little bit refuting that statement and talking about how I am
going to have a wonderful Christmas this year.
To address the statements posted on
Facebook:
I agree that Christmas is
commercialized; just like every other holiday that we have nowadays. If ever
there was an opportunity for companies to make money, it has to be Christmas.
The traditions of the holiday dictate that one gives of oneself. This does not
mean that you have to empty your savings to buy gifts for others. It is just
convenient with all of the “things” that are on everyone’s lists to go to the
store and buy things. The statement about the kids wondering “why everyone else got
stuff” is false. That is, unless you have spoiled brats. It was a rare treat
for us to get stuff that cost a “crazy amount of money” when I was growing up.
We (my sisters and I) got a select few things that were at the very top of our
list (if they were within the budget) and gifts that a lot of thought went
into. If we didn't get what we wanted one year, there was always the next year
or the next…
Saying that your “heart goes out to the families who
will have nothing for Christmas” is a nice sentiment, but it essentially means
nothing when it is not backed by any sort of action. Also, saying that you won’t
be bragging about how much you spend because of the families that are lacking
is either a dig at someone that has done that very thing, or in a way it’s kind
of rubbing it in. It’s like saying that you are going to spend so much money
that I would get jealous. Hmm…
I would have to agree with the final statement though. Let’s remember what Christmas is really about. It is about getting
together with friends and family and celebrating another year lived, lighting
the dark and dreary winter with love and friendship, knowing that you are loved
and capable of loving return by taking the time to exchange well-selected or
made gifts, and letting go of the negative to embrace the positive in order to
combat the depression that winter tends to bring.
I love baking with my kids. Christmas cookies are the
best, and it is the perfect excuse to take in carbs (in moderation of course).
We have already made 2 batches of cookies and 4 loaves of pumpkin bread; one of
which we gave to our new neighbors that moved in behind us last week. Hopefully
we will be able to make fudge and divinity this next week like I used to with
my mom and sisters when we were younger. That was one thing I always looked
forward to when the holidays rolled around.
To bring the holiday cheer into the house and come
together as a family, we have watched at least one holiday movie as a family
every weekend. Usually my son and I watch the Christmas episode of Diego while
Dad is at work and Sister is at school as well. I am totally looking forward to
driving around to look at Christmas lights with a mug of cocoa followed by “A
Christmas Story” with my family on Christmas Eve. That is so important to our
family that we even made it a point to do it last year while we were living
with my husband’s parents because we were out of a house for winter break.
Hopefully it will continue to be a tradition when the kids get older too, because
I know that whether they join us or not, my husband and I will repeat it every
year until we just can’t anymore.
For gifts this year I have gotten
kind of creative. The kids both have trunks that have been given to them in
past years, but they don’t really have anything to put in them. Since they like
to play dress up, I rummaged through the clearance racks at Walmart and Joann's after Halloween to get dress up stuff for them. I think I managed to get about
$60 worth of clothes and accessories for $25, and I hope to make a few more
items using my brain, quilting chubs, and my sewing machine. We have also
recently racked up a lot of points with Best Buy and are considering using
those and turning in a spare TV or two for credit toward a newer TV for them to
share. We might save that one for next year though; not sure yet. Other than
that, their gifts consist of items that I was planning on buying them already
that I am just going to wrap in pretty paper instead of just handing it to
them. No I-pods or leap pads, no motorized scooters or battery operated cars,
nothing that is going to break the budget here because life goes on after
Christmas and we need our money to pay the bills.
I love the holiday season. It is my
favorite part of the year following autumn. With all the stresses that we put
on ourselves; such as competing with neighbors to see who can decorate better,
trying to watch our calorie intake, which gifts to give to who (and who to give
gifts to while we’re at it), mailing deadlines, lines everywhere, and on and on
and on; it is easy to forget what this season is about. So I urge you to take time this holiday season to curl up
on the couch with your spouse/significant other, parents, siblings, or children
with a mug of cocoa and a Christmas movie, and just let go of everything else
for a while. It will get done, and if it doesn't, it doesn't matter.
Happy Holidays!
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