I've Become The Grinch
I want to vent. I feel like I have become the grinch. How do you tell an entire family that you don't want to participate in the gift-giving? The whole Christmas season has made me so bitter. Don't get me wrong I LOVE the season of Christmas. The lights, hot cocoa, snuggling up on the couch in a blanket watching a movie, smores by the fire and pies. I love that shit.
What I don't love is the stressing of gift-giving, getting toys, and other things we don't NEED crammed all in the car so high you can't see out the back window. Don't get me wrong if you have bought our child something over the years. Thank you! However, I feel like the whole message about what Christmas is gone. The mile-long wishlists of what kids "want" I want it to stop. I can't stand it anymore. I don't want to buy or receive gifts at all this year. So much that I am honestly dreading this holiday when I want to say hey guys, sorry we didn't buy anyone anything.
I want my kids to see that the holidays are about spending time with the ones you love. It shouldn't be about who's giving or getting what. I don't want to hear, "well, she got this, and I didn't." I want our Christmas to have memories about togetherness. I don't want my kids to think about the list of THINGS and material objects that they obsess over to be the main focus point on this holiday. If I need something during the year, I am most likely going to buy it and not wait. If my children want/ need something during the year, they are either going to save up their money and buy it or realized that their wants vs. needs aren't very needed for that a toy.
Growing up, I was SPOILED beyond beliefe. My "dad" was born in the great depression, and as a result, he wanted to give me everything he didn't have. I am grateful for what he did in my life, but it made me selfish and ungrateful to those around me when I was younger. There wasn't a toy that could ever fix my loneliness. I don't want my kids to have that. I want them to see that the holidays are about loving your family. So please spend time with your loved ones while you still can.
If you want to give a gift, make it memorable. Get the kiddos a book with a message, a necklace with meaning, a coin to collect, or my favorite is to spend personal time with them by a day date. These are the things that will last for year to come. Do you remember a detailed list of items you got every year? I remember a few "Santa toys," but Santa only brought ONE cool toy every year. Not 50.
Friends, we are the next generation, and we are teaching our littles to either follow in our selfish footsteps or stepping out of this way and into something better in life than obsessing over the newest game console or doll. So what if we all stopped buying into the retail madness? What if you took that money and took the kiddos or your cousin out on a goofy golf date instead of purchasing that ugly sweater? Or hell, even coming over for dinner and playing a board game together! I bet your ass if you spent more time with your family and stopped worrying about gifts you'd be closer to them and wouldn't see them just on the holidays.
If you want to change the world, go home and love your family - Mother Teresa
What I don't love is the stressing of gift-giving, getting toys, and other things we don't NEED crammed all in the car so high you can't see out the back window. Don't get me wrong if you have bought our child something over the years. Thank you! However, I feel like the whole message about what Christmas is gone. The mile-long wishlists of what kids "want" I want it to stop. I can't stand it anymore. I don't want to buy or receive gifts at all this year. So much that I am honestly dreading this holiday when I want to say hey guys, sorry we didn't buy anyone anything.
I want my kids to see that the holidays are about spending time with the ones you love. It shouldn't be about who's giving or getting what. I don't want to hear, "well, she got this, and I didn't." I want our Christmas to have memories about togetherness. I don't want my kids to think about the list of THINGS and material objects that they obsess over to be the main focus point on this holiday. If I need something during the year, I am most likely going to buy it and not wait. If my children want/ need something during the year, they are either going to save up their money and buy it or realized that their wants vs. needs aren't very needed for that a toy.
Growing up, I was SPOILED beyond beliefe. My "dad" was born in the great depression, and as a result, he wanted to give me everything he didn't have. I am grateful for what he did in my life, but it made me selfish and ungrateful to those around me when I was younger. There wasn't a toy that could ever fix my loneliness. I don't want my kids to have that. I want them to see that the holidays are about loving your family. So please spend time with your loved ones while you still can.
If you want to give a gift, make it memorable. Get the kiddos a book with a message, a necklace with meaning, a coin to collect, or my favorite is to spend personal time with them by a day date. These are the things that will last for year to come. Do you remember a detailed list of items you got every year? I remember a few "Santa toys," but Santa only brought ONE cool toy every year. Not 50.
Friends, we are the next generation, and we are teaching our littles to either follow in our selfish footsteps or stepping out of this way and into something better in life than obsessing over the newest game console or doll. So what if we all stopped buying into the retail madness? What if you took that money and took the kiddos or your cousin out on a goofy golf date instead of purchasing that ugly sweater? Or hell, even coming over for dinner and playing a board game together! I bet your ass if you spent more time with your family and stopped worrying about gifts you'd be closer to them and wouldn't see them just on the holidays.
If you want to change the world, go home and love your family - Mother Teresa
Comments
Post a Comment