Who is Christmas for?
Remember that pressure I said I wasn’t going to feel? Well . . . I can’t say I am feeling pressure exactly, but I will say that I don’t feel as Christmasy as I’d like to. I’m not sure exactly why, but there are a number of factors that contribute to this state of being. One is that I am working full-time now, for the first time in 17 years. I love my job, but it does cut down on my “puttering” time. We also have the factor of my husband not feeling particularly up to par. He’s still recovering from his knee surgery, and now he’s gotten cellulitis (on his other leg) which is bothersome both physically and mentally. Then the “late” Thanksgiving cut down on my mental prep time. But the biggest factor of all? I think it is my kids growing up – and they don’t have a “I’d really, really, really, like to have _____ this” wish this year. Barbies, Hot Wheels, and Legos have gone by the wayside. We’ve worked hard to teach our kids not to be too materialistic, to work and save their money to buy the things they really want so they are invested in it, to help them not be “wanters”. I guess we’ve succeeded. But now on my end of the equation – I don’t have the warm fuzzies of finding the perfect gift, to anticipate the look of delight on their faces, to glow with the satisfaction of knowing what they really want, etc. Oh my, now it sounds like Christmas is really all about me doesn’t it?
Looks like I need to re-examine a few things. I’ve got 8 days to get it together . . .
Take your family out to look at Christmas lights tonight – you'll feel better.