Christmas

[Murfreesboro]

I think your Christmas celebration sounds beautiful, Mike.

[Lillith]

I just can't get myself in the swing of christmas yet. I'm not out of the Halloween spirit.

[Spookymufu]

Christmas has become a PITA and a hassle since I became an adult, and even more so since I became a father......I hate Christmas.

[Jack Skellington]

I just can't get myself in the swing of christmas yet. I'm not out of the Halloween spirit.

I'm still in the Halloween spirit too!

Thanks for all the feedback though everyone! I agree with Murf, you're Christmas sounds great Mike!

I must admit Christmas has become rather expensive since I became a father!

[Jack Skellington]

I bought this today. It's a Christmas countdown. I bought it in the Disney Store.

[iHaunt]

Mike aka Pumpkin_Man is my uncle! Xmas is not my all the time favorite holiday, allso hate cold winter seaseon!

[Murfreesboro]

Well, I fully appreciate how difficult Christmas becomes when you have kids. It's not just the expense of the presents, but also all the activities they have. Every extra-curricular and organization they belong to has to have a party of some sort. Or a performance. Or a parade. Or all of the above. It gets so insanely over-scheduled.

Things do begin to quiet down a little as they grow up and leave the nest. I have also found that you can preserve your sanity by thinking of Christmas as a season rather than a day. Just as most of us celebrate Halloween all October long, it is possible to celebrate Christmas throughout December. That way you put less pressure on yourself about The Big Day.

Another good suggestion (although I have never followed it myself) is to limit the number of gifts each child gets. I read of one family who limited the number to three, because that's how many baby Jesus got. This family had it down to an art form. They had a gift of gold, a gift of myrrh, and a gift of frankincense. I have forgotten how they assigned them symbolically, but one gift was something the person needed, another was something the person wanted but didn't need, and the last was something for the family to make a memory, like concert tickets, sports tickets, tickets to a vacation--you get the idea. For example, one child might have gotten a winter coat, a video game, and a ticket to an ice hockey game. Something like that.

My husband has had to get creative about me, because my birthday is at Christmas (the 22nd). Over the years he has made my birthday gift something personal, and the Christmas gift something family-oriented. For example, one year he gave me a necklace for my birthday, and a DVD player for Christmas.

[Jack Skellington]

That's a good idea Murf!

With regards to the cost of Christmas, my wife & I put some money aside throughout the year to cover the cost. That way it doesn't make such a big dent in our November/December pay packets!

[Murfreesboro]

It's admirable that you all can be so disciplined about it. I always start the year with great intentions, but as the months roll past there is always something that seems more pressing--the kids have to take a field trip, or I have to pay insurance policies, that sort of thing.

[Pumpkin_Man]

What I usualy try to do is put a couple of bucks aside every month so I'll have a little saved up by the Christmas season, but I do not spend a lot on it. At my age, it's the old traditions and not the gift getting that makes the Christmas season.

Mike

[Murfreesboro]

The gifts don't mean so much to me anymore, either, but I know my three kids still like to get them.

[Li H'Sen Chang]

I have all my monies for Christmas and buy the gift starting in September befoer Halloween.

[Pumpkin_Man]

Murf, you hit the nail right on the head. Believe it or not, Christmas WAS my favorite holiday when I was a kid, because of all the neat new toys I would get. The whole concept of "It's better to give then to receive" really didn't take hole with me until after I was in high school. Little ones, are undoubetedly excited about that annual visit from Santa Clause, as was I back in 'the day.'

But as an adult, I have different priorities and a great love and appreciation of the TRADITION behind the celebration of Christmas, and while I STILL love to see the way the little one's faces light up when they pull a wraped box out from under the Christmas Tree, I really love all the traditions both during the pre Christmas season, such as the Advent wreath, and the observance of the major Christmas traditions, like picking out a Christmas tree ( no fake trees in my house!!!) the gathering of loved ones to trim that tree, and the music and tv specials.

I do get some nice presents from my older brother, but to me, the thing that excites me most about Christmas is the observance of tradition, not the gifts I get. I also found that I really love giving gifts to the 'little ones' too. When I was a kid, it was 'get all you can get while the getting is good.'

Mike