Christmas is the most stressful time of the year. My director actually made me tired last night when he described his Christmas, they run around literally from morning to night, back, forth, back, forth. Non stop and that does not even begin to describe the stress most of us feel while having to somehow someway come up with extra money for presents.
In this day and age not even presents, man the TV is showing a good parent buys their kids a big screen TV new lap top and an Iphone. It has all gotten out of hand, and we have let it happen.
Now don't misunderstand me, us business owners have a job to do in December. Being totally honest that job is to sell more. Christmas is the best time of the year for shopping. There are sales everywhere you look, specials all over the place, yet the stress is still sitting weighing heavy on us, to out due, make sure, and supply a Christmas for those that we love.
In the last two weeks I have heard more tension and stress about our coming yule tide cheer than I have heard any other year. Heck even my house has had some un needed stress and worry about Santa coming.
Have we lost the point of Christmas all together? It isn't about what is under the tree, I know everyone says that, but if it was really what everyone felt then where is the stress coming from?
I cannot say I am any different than anyone else, Christmas has been my time of year every year to spoil my kids...Okay who am I kidding everyday has been my time of year to spoil my kids. The more I have the more I want them to have, but we are making a mistake.
We are falling out of love with a holiday that is about tradition, and snuggling with our loved ones. A nice dinner a spot of eggnog and rum, laughing and loving the people we have in our lives.
We have fallen into the trap of caring whats under the tree, going into debt, stressing out beyond what most of us can handle. and it is time to stop.
Sure the kids want the new xbox, the phones, the crap but at the end of the day, they don't need it. What we all need is each other, what our kids needs is some special time, a tradition they can count on, a time of the year that they don't have to have a relationship with their parents in the hallways while we say love you heading to work, or did you get your homework done while trying to throw some supper together so that you can finish the work you brought home. Trust me in five years they are not going to remember what they got, only what the day was like.
They ask for the xbox because they can but what they really want is us. What we all really want for Christmas is love, some family time, a great afternoon nap while smelling the turkey cooking.
Stop stressing and start enjoying. If the money is tight, buy some inexpensive family games and attach a note to it that says once a week is family night. Give them the gift of love, a letter telling them what they mean to you, what sharing the last year with them has done for you.
Make Christmas the time of love not stress. Have a friend over for dinner, make a coupon book that gives the gift of you. Lord knows my kids would love a week of their choice off from doing chores, now that's a gift.
Get back to the reason for the season, love, friends, family and some much needed time off.
Trust me when I tell you they are not going to love those great big presents enough to except you working overtime for 6 months to pay them off.
Give the people you love the greatest gift of all, give them you.
We are all going through difficult times, money is tight for everyone. Adults don't need gifts they need love. Kids don't need expensive they need their parents. Be thankful feel blessed for the warm house, the great Christmas dinner.
I normally go to extreme at Christmas, I am not even coming close to lying when I say it is normally a 10-15 thousand dollar touch for me, but you know what? Not this year. That DJ hero my daughter needed so bad last year has not been touched in months, those books, they have all been read and now my 10 year old is bored, I can't remember which piece of jewelery my husband got me last year. Oh wait yes I can, he got me a ring I love but never wear.
The stress is not worth it. The worrying is not worth it.. This is the first year in 20 that I am not stressing, there will be two presents under the tree for every child, Santa's and their letters. Nope this year is about what my kids need most. They need me, they need Brian and they need to know we love them, believe it or not what we spend on them doesn't show that.
That new phone is just going to get them into trouble, the new PlayStation a reason to not talk to their parents, and no one needs a lulu lemon sweatshirt.
The truth is we have all screwed up and it is time to change it. For the first time I am excited about Christmas, our special ornaments on the tree, that wish when the angel gets lit, gingerbread molasses cookies. Lazy boy subs, with hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps on Christmas eve.
Kailyn while watching Christmas movies, whispering to Amanda's belly how much grandma loves Hailey. My kids moving home so I can enjoy my grand baby full time. The tears and hugs when they read their Christmas letters. Cuddling with my husband while watching the lights on the tree dance. Thanking god for being so blessed.
I am looking forward to a couple of days off with my family. Toni coming for Christmas, Nadia coming for supper. Rex and my nephews sharing the day with me. My mom and dad coming to laugh and enjoy with us. I am looking forward to Christmas, the real meaning, not a gift. They don't really matter.
We are all so blessed this year and that includes being blessed about being broke. The best thing that can happen is not having money for Christmas because then you can see what it is really about.
To my family, I am the luckiest mom, wife, sister, daughter in the world, the only gift that could ever matter is the gift of each of you in my life.
So what does this psychic want for Christmas??? Santa's already been and he left me love.
Enjoy the holiday, strop stressing and love the life you are living,..
Love My Life Kjarlune Rae.
