A New Way to do Christmas
Each year I tell myself that I am going to make Christmas what Christmas should be about. I know what it is about, and I try to make sure my children understand the true meaning. However, at times, there is that part of me that just wants my kids to have the kind of Christmas I had imagined others had as a child.
We had little growing up. And believe it or not we were as excited about getting fresh fruit as the kids of today’s time are about getting a play station. The difference being we were so grateful for the fruit.
I have learned, though, there is no way to keep up with the Joneses. Believe me I tried only to learn my kids were just not as excited about a ton of gifts as I was trying to give them. My inner child was overtaking all that I have taught my children…..less is more.
This year I begin thinking about Christmas as early as July. We often complain that when we order gifts or purchase gifts, they just do not have the quality they used to. So, this year many of our gifts to our families were either useful gifts I had heard them mention they needed, purchased at the time verses scrambling at year end, or homemade gifts.
I can imagine many at this moment visualizing their child’s homemade gifts of younger years. You know the kind that you kept out for years until the day finally came that it “accidentally” fell and broke. Well I think I could do a little better than that, after all my kids are a little older. We started small. Sarah sewing a few towels together for a dear friend who needed something particular but couldn’t find it, then attempting to replicate another sewing item we had seen for another friend. Sarah did a great job, and both were received with excitement for their perfect “how did you know” gift. They really did look amazing. Ashley helped me with other projects. We made a beautiful wreath and a Snowman tree. Both recipients equally thrilled and amazed they were homemade.
Gifts from the heart. Made together as Mom and Child. The reality is that while the gift itself was nice; the time I have spent with my children making the gift was truly the best Christmas Gift. And our Christmas was enjoyed much longer than most since we have been discussing Christmas in our house since July. Not just the gifts, and what we would make for whom, instead we have talked about Christmas and Jesus birth. Our thoughts of the true meaning of Christmas did not get crammed in one month between November and December; between Amazon or various stores alight with Christmas Decorations. This new way of doing Christmas has opened up a whole new way of talking with my kids on any subject. And because of our new way of doing Christmas I have found this year to be the least stressful of any year’s past. This also meant my heart was free to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas; even with the unexpected shift in traditions and loss of loved ones.