Everyone is supposed to love Christmas. I do.
Now I am going to explane why I don't like it as much as I'm supposed to. I'm admitting it, even though it is close to taboo to admit that Christmas is a bit much for me. It is my feeling that Thanksgiving is everything that Christmas could be. Let me explane.
You know all the reasons there is to love Christmas. The weeks of parties, music, cookies and sweets, gifts, more parties, children, travel, decorations and family.
Every year my children have class parties, my husband has work parties, my church has youth parties, there are family birthdays as well as our anniversary. This year we have added a Jr. High Bollywood dance recital (really?), our daughter's choir performances, our choir performances, and hand bell performances. All of these activities are tromping on top of buying gifts and celebrating Advent (counting down the days 'till Christmas). We also have to be moved out of our house on the 1st of December, but that is just this year. Most of these festive activities are not unique to this year (Bollywood Jr. High dance recital?).
Last year I watch the Charlie Brown Christmas and cried tears of "good greif". There is too much to do at Christmas. I am missing the point of Christmas and there is no way around it. I have to participate in the menagerie of festivities. On their own, each activity is manageable, but in quick succession, it is a flood of fun. A serving of ice cream is yummy, but not so much if you have to eat a gallon right now.
I used to think it was that I was putting some imagined expectation on Christmas, because it was magical when I was a kid, thanks to my parents. I want to love it, like I used to. Now I don't have the expectations I used to, but a calendar and a schedule to keep.
If I could have what I want for Christmas, it would be that Thanksgiving is the new Christmas. There aren't piles of music to learn, months of preparation and pre-Thanksgiving parties.
All I have to do is deliver juice boxes to my children's classroom the day before school is out, and a potluck item for the actual day of Thanksgiving. Then, I get to enjoy the people around me and remember how thankful I am, all weekend. It is just as spiritual and sacred as Christmas. I am so thankful for that.
Now I am going to explane why I don't like it as much as I'm supposed to. I'm admitting it, even though it is close to taboo to admit that Christmas is a bit much for me. It is my feeling that Thanksgiving is everything that Christmas could be. Let me explane.
You know all the reasons there is to love Christmas. The weeks of parties, music, cookies and sweets, gifts, more parties, children, travel, decorations and family.
Every year my children have class parties, my husband has work parties, my church has youth parties, there are family birthdays as well as our anniversary. This year we have added a Jr. High Bollywood dance recital (really?), our daughter's choir performances, our choir performances, and hand bell performances. All of these activities are tromping on top of buying gifts and celebrating Advent (counting down the days 'till Christmas). We also have to be moved out of our house on the 1st of December, but that is just this year. Most of these festive activities are not unique to this year (Bollywood Jr. High dance recital?).
Last year I watch the Charlie Brown Christmas and cried tears of "good greif". There is too much to do at Christmas. I am missing the point of Christmas and there is no way around it. I have to participate in the menagerie of festivities. On their own, each activity is manageable, but in quick succession, it is a flood of fun. A serving of ice cream is yummy, but not so much if you have to eat a gallon right now.
I used to think it was that I was putting some imagined expectation on Christmas, because it was magical when I was a kid, thanks to my parents. I want to love it, like I used to. Now I don't have the expectations I used to, but a calendar and a schedule to keep.
If I could have what I want for Christmas, it would be that Thanksgiving is the new Christmas. There aren't piles of music to learn, months of preparation and pre-Thanksgiving parties.
All I have to do is deliver juice boxes to my children's classroom the day before school is out, and a potluck item for the actual day of Thanksgiving. Then, I get to enjoy the people around me and remember how thankful I am, all weekend. It is just as spiritual and sacred as Christmas. I am so thankful for that.
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