Christmas has been on my mind lately. My husband had his hours cut so we knew Christmas would not be like last year. I have been very sad over this and just couldn't shake this awful feeling. As most know, the kids and I talk about everything. We discussed my feelings and Corey, the oldest, told me he doesn't want gifts this year. He never really liked the whole gift thing. Corey said the entire season is destroyed by this competition of gifts, who got the most, who got the most expensive. When it comes down to it, does anyone remember what Christmas is actually about. He said when you ask most kids they will tell you its gifts. He was actually glad that gifts couldn't be a part of the equation this year. Abby spoke up and kept saying she really only wanted us for Christmas, to play games, watch movies , just be a family.
I started thinking about this and they are right. Every year we spend money we don't really have , on gifts that we really don't need. There is definitely a sense of competition between parents, whether conscious or not. There is so much stress running to the store, getting up on Black Friday to the pushing and shoving of the season, and the guilt that drives the gift giving. I know in the past, more than once, I have said " does anyone really know the meaning of Christmas, does anyone have the spirit of the holidays?" I get so mad every year and by the time the holidays are here, I am annoyed. The morning of Christmas has lasted all of 10 minutes and than you are done. All that craziness for just a few minutes of material joy.
This year we are challenging ourselves to stop the madness. We don't have it so we aren't doing it. We sat down with the kids, who are 16 and 12, and discussed traditions, what they need for the holidays. Their answer: food, family and fun. Food because we carry on a Polish Tradition every year where we eat Borscht, albeit gluten free this year. We also bake a cake for Jesus and have every year. They requested that we light the house up this year , so we did manage to find lights on sale and will have the brightest spot in the cornfield. Fun is defined by them as playing games, drinking hot cocoa and driving to see the christmas lights, and definitely watching the classic christmas movies. The more I think about this, the more excited I get over the holidays. And I have never been excited over the holidays.
And for this I thank my children, who once again inspire me and teach me life lessons that make me a better person.
