It’s that time of the year again…the time where we all scramble to find the best deals on the hottest toys and gadgets that our families HAVE to have. I don’t know about you, but every year, I say that THIS Christmas that it’s going to stop. THIS Christmas, we are only giving the kids a few things, and making presents for the grandparents…we are going to focus on the REASON for the season instead of the STUFF of the season.
So far, in past years, that amazingly wonderful idea of mine has fallen flat. My “trimmed down” Christmas shopping list turns into quite the stressful shopping time. I make out a mental list of a few things to buy for the kids, then for me, both my Mother in Law and Mom give me money to buy their presents for the kids while I am out. I end up trying to spend that money on stuff the kids will like, and that will junk up the house as little as possible…have to keep the presents even between the grandparents…can’t have the In laws giving 5 presents to my moms 2 presents. About that time, I step back to look at the new, even piles of presents (my handiwork), only to realize that the kids have 5 presents from each sets of Grandparents, and I only got 4 from us. Then, you guessed it, it’s back to the store for me to find another present or two for each of the kids because “they should always get the most from their parents.” This is the way my Christmas’ past have been going. This year, I (hopefully) got smart! We are getting a few presents for the kids (a few will be homemade), and I have told the Grandparents that they can give 1-2 small things to open, if they want to spend more money, they can give them lessons of some kind, or something similar. You may wonder what I am going to find with all of my (again hopefully) new found time. Some of that will be spent making sure that my kids know the true reason for the season…not just that every December 25th, we get presents.
So much of the spirit and meaning of the Christmas holiday
gets lost in all of the stress that WE create!
Something else that frequently gets in the way of all of the perfect plans of teaching the kids about Christmas is time. It seems that right after Thanksgiving, I think “there is PLENTY of time…don’t want to rush Christmas” then I blink twice and it’s Christmas eve. (I seriously will never stop being amazed at how easily a whole month can get away from us!) Teaching the kids the true meaning of Christmas, REALLY spending the time to know that they “get” it all of a sudden turns into a quick Bible story before bed. Mind you sometimes this isn’t even a good story…it’s rushed because my mind is already on all of the presents and what needs to be done before I go to bed.
This year do yourself a favor. Take the time to sit down with a cup of coffee and take a quick look at what you want your Christmas season to look like, and the way that it is looking on your current path. What is missing? Is there too much of something? Do your kids really NEED all of the things on their 10 page, single spaced, size 8 font (with clickable links) e-mail list to Santa? Think about last Christmas, did you have anything that you wanted to do/read with the kids, but didn’t have the time? (I know I had a ton!) While you are stressing out about your 15 page “to do” list, are you forgetting to take the time to sit down with the kids and teach them not only of Jesus’ birth, but of the time of love, compassion, and sharing that Christmastime represents?
THIS year, make yourself a promise that you won’t fall into the “Christmas STUFF trap”, and that you will instead act on all of the ideas floating around in your head. Maybe it’s a unit study on Christmas, a project you wanted to do with the kids, or just a list of books that you wish you had taken the time to read with the kids in years past, this is the time to act on it! We have weeks before Christmas is here, with a little planning, we can avoid the post-Christmas “I fell into the trap again, and we didn’t get _______ done.”
Have a great holiday season!
Jules lives in southeast Virginia with her amazing husband and 2 awesome children. She is a Christian, and loves her camera, coffee, and her Macbook. She and her family can frequently be found at their favorite place, Williamsburg, Va. Jules can also be found blogging at Mommy Ramblings.
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This is so true. You do truly need to just put a stop to it. I sure have. I find you spend your money on toys that the kids want, you know they won’t last and then the money may as well have ended up in the trash can. If I was going to give my money away, I would rather offer it to the local Orphanage. Anyway, I think Christmas is way too commercial. But you can also make some wonderful gifts and I find this very rewarding, so do the family members if you put some thought into it.
I agree Toni! Again I have fallen into the trap of waiting in long lines for “hot toys”…the ones the kids “had to have”…This year I bought a few things for them, the other presents will be handmade or from a place that gives part of the proceeds to charity. Actually this week I am going to be doing a series on giving “gifts that give back” because I think that is a great way to go 🙂
My children decided to do Secret Santas this year – they drew names and will get one nicer present for that person, rather than a bunch of so-so gifts for everyone. I am also scaling back. We are trying to take some of the stress away from the holiday. Of course, since they are mostly young adults, the 10-page lists are a thing of the past!
Long before we had children, my husband and I decided not to exchange gifts. One year we just decided that there really was not a reason for us to give each other gifts. Christmas isn’t about US. People always ask us what we got each other for Christmas. When we say “Nothing, we don’t exchange gifts,” I know they think we are crazy.
When we had children, we made a decision to NOT go overboard. Of course they still get “stuff” they don’t need but we really do attempt to keep it low key. Each year our children, 8 and 5, spend their own money on items for Operation Christmas Child (Christmas boxes). We also collect food for our local food banks. One year my son spent his money on chicks for a family through Heifer International. And as a family (and church), we support 4 children in Cambodia. Yes, our children have more toys than they need, but we try to focus on the needs of others rather than our wants.
I’m totally on board with your “Reason for the Season.” In our busy, commercial society, it is easy to get sucked-in to all of the chaos. 🙂
I so relate! I think I’ve finally convinced my parents and in-laws not to buy tons of stuff for my kids. I did the math for them: 4 children times 2 sets of grandparents, 2 sets of aunt/uncle, and 1 set of parents = 20 brand new toys coming into my house at Christmas – and that’s if each child only gets one thing!! It’s insanity!
To help me stay sane this year, I’ve made a list of the activities I want us to do and the books I want us to read. We’re off to a good start. Today we made candy cane reindeer. Hopefully we can create memories this month and not stress.
Maybe, what we need to do is get down on our knees before the holidays begin and pray that our children see the real Christmas through our actions and associations with others.
I have been bracing my kids for their Christmas this year. That they are not getting a lot of toys but what they get will be really great. I am super excited and my Dad and Mom have already bought the one gift that will be super compatible for my gift. Yeaaaa. We also are going to buy toys and books for this local lady that organizes gifts for needy kids.
Such a great post! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much! I am glad you liked it 🙂
This is so true. You do truly need to just put a stop to it. I sure have. I find you spend your money on toys that the kids want, you know they won’t last and then the money may as well have ended up in the trash can. If I was going to give my money away, I would rather offer it to the local Orphanage. Anyway, I think Christmas is way too commercial. But you can also make some wonderful gifts and I find this very rewarding, so do the family members if you put some thought into it.
I agree Toni! Again I have fallen into the trap of waiting in long lines for “hot toys”…the ones the kids “had to have”…This year I bought a few things for them, the other presents will be handmade or from a place that gives part of the proceeds to charity. Actually this week I am going to be doing a series on giving “gifts that give back” because I think that is a great way to go 🙂
Great post Jules!
My children decided to do Secret Santas this year – they drew names and will get one nicer present for that person, rather than a bunch of so-so gifts for everyone. I am also scaling back. We are trying to take some of the stress away from the holiday. Of course, since they are mostly young adults, the 10-page lists are a thing of the past!
YES YES YES! I have had good years and bad years when it comes to simplifying Christmas. This year will be a good one, I just know it. 🙂
Long before we had children, my husband and I decided not to exchange gifts. One year we just decided that there really was not a reason for us to give each other gifts. Christmas isn’t about US. People always ask us what we got each other for Christmas. When we say “Nothing, we don’t exchange gifts,” I know they think we are crazy.
When we had children, we made a decision to NOT go overboard. Of course they still get “stuff” they don’t need but we really do attempt to keep it low key. Each year our children, 8 and 5, spend their own money on items for Operation Christmas Child (Christmas boxes). We also collect food for our local food banks. One year my son spent his money on chicks for a family through Heifer International. And as a family (and church), we support 4 children in Cambodia. Yes, our children have more toys than they need, but we try to focus on the needs of others rather than our wants.
I’m totally on board with your “Reason for the Season.” In our busy, commercial society, it is easy to get sucked-in to all of the chaos. 🙂
I so relate! I think I’ve finally convinced my parents and in-laws not to buy tons of stuff for my kids. I did the math for them: 4 children times 2 sets of grandparents, 2 sets of aunt/uncle, and 1 set of parents = 20 brand new toys coming into my house at Christmas – and that’s if each child only gets one thing!! It’s insanity!
To help me stay sane this year, I’ve made a list of the activities I want us to do and the books I want us to read. We’re off to a good start. Today we made candy cane reindeer. Hopefully we can create memories this month and not stress.
Maybe, what we need to do is get down on our knees before the holidays begin and pray that our children see the real Christmas through our actions and associations with others.
I have been bracing my kids for their Christmas this year. That they are not getting a lot of toys but what they get will be really great. I am super excited and my Dad and Mom have already bought the one gift that will be super compatible for my gift. Yeaaaa. We also are going to buy toys and books for this local lady that organizes gifts for needy kids.