Yes, that time of year has arrived! The one which is filled with wonder, excitement and stress. Yes, I said stress! If you are a parent, you are aware of exactly what I am talking about. The pressure is on to make the holiday fun and happy for all. You will spend the next three weeks or so rushing around like a manic trying to buys gifts, wrap, decorate, prepare your home for guests, and the list goes on and one.
However, the holidays as Charlie Brown learned from his buddy Linus are about much more than commercialism and getting those Black Friday specials. Without going into the religious sentiments, many of us have lost touch with what they truly mean.
While my home is not perfect by any means, one thing which I have tried to do is to incorporate more giving and less getting. Our family always takes part in the the school's giving tree where you purchase a present for a family who is less fortunate. We also contribute to the annual Toys for Tots collection. One other tradition which my children have come to enjoy is making cookies or cupcakes for our neighbors and area seniors. I didn't realize how much my two oldest had come to value this until a couple of years ago when I was pregnant at holiday prep time.
Feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, the last thing on my agenda was baking. Yet, my oldest reminded me that we'd forgotten to make our goodies for the neighbors. The boys actually looked forward to visiting and delivering the homemade treats. With more than a little help from dad that year, we kept the tradition alive.
One thing I have learned after having three children is that excess is not necessarily better. They children enjoy their gifts more if there are less of them. Many presents means little ones are often overwhelmed and end up playing with very little. As children get older, their list becomes pricier which means and you have to scale back anyway. Limiting what is under the tree doesn't make you a bad parent.
As hard as it sounds, focusing on the fun activities like your town's yearly tree lighting or a ride on the Santa train and less on the material aspects just might put the happy back in the holidays!
It doesn't matter what you celebrate. Take a step back and try to savor the moments with family and friends because often times they are gone all too soon. And remember, this time of year is not merry for everyone. Including others spreads the spirit around and that feeling of goodwill lasts a lot longer than this year's hot must have toy.
