I love love love celebrating but with it comes financial strain. Party attire, commuting costs to said holiday gatherings, bringing something to offer the host, gifts for the family and children, a tree, etc.
Then the actual holiday! We travel to a different state to meet with two sides of the family for a weekend of "Christmas" with them. Its hectic, the weather usually blows and we're all tired by the time the weekend is over.
Don't get me wrong- I do all this willingly. But have the Holidays gotten so nuts that we've all over looked the simple meaning and pleasures behind it? Spend quality time with those you love. Visit. Gifts are great, anyone who tells you they don't care about them is probably full of crapoo. Who turns down presents?
---> not this gal<----- but what if that WASN'T what the season ended up being about? We're all so hard wired to want. To NEED. To expect, that it kinda detracts from the spirit.
Shopping for other people and getting the right gift is stressful, now do that 10 times over for each different family member or good friend and its down right agonizing.
You know what I want this year? I want to have that moment, the moment where the kids are not psychotically running through the house on a sugar high, the moment where they are subdued-ISH and we can all play a stupid family board game together, or watch a movie together with popcorn and M&Ms. I want to have a terribly unhealthy-yet delicious-meal together and laugh and relax, unbutton the pants even. Hell, maybe just skip the pants and rock yoga pants all day!
As parents we do what we can for our kids- but how much is too much? When do they realize that they can't get the most expensive most awesome toys? How do you quell the disappointment? They don't really know better do they? Ok, mine are under 9 so I feel like I can say that seeing as their expectations stem from their social environment...meaning school, peers and YES...ME!
It's hard to say no. It's hard to watch their little faces break with sadness when you don't give in and buy they XY or Z- but is it shaping them to cope better in the end? I think so. I hope so- otherwise I'm just the meanest mother in the world!
Sound off in comments! I want to hear from you!
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