I have mentioned before that I have a hard time with the Christmas season. I am never really excited for that time of year. I know that some of it has to do with one of my sexual traumas happening on NYE. But I think it goes deeper than that.
Looking back at my childhood growing up and the holiday season. I just don’t have a lot of fond memories. It just seemed like it was a stressful time. I remember numerous Christmas Mornings of my dad yelling at my mom for forgetting the batteries for a toy, or film for the camera(I am really showing my age on that one) I know my parents did their best to give us the gifts we wanted.
But I think even as a child I could sense the stress and tension in their relationship. Because of those negative memories, I struggle with the holiday season. I feel like society has forgotten the REASON for the SEASON: The birth of Jesus. It is a time to reflect on Jesus and the true meaning of Christmas.
I also feel like as a society we are so focused on what to get Aunt Pam or Uncle Joe that we are just wanting to buy a gift than to make memories with our loved ones. I really strived to focus on spending time with my girls during the holiday season instead of just buying gifts.
As crazy as it sounds it was kind of a good thing that we were a low-income family. Because my girls knew I could not buy them but maybe one gift that was no more than $25 each. So I was able to get very creative in the things we did. Reading a book together, watching a movie or just spending time with each other.
About 10 years ago I “accidentally” started a tradition of seeing a kids movie on the afternoon of Christmas. That has been a great tradition. A few years later I began making Dutch Pancokes (kinda like crepes but you put butter & sugar in the middle) And then about 2 years ago we began doing the Saran Ball (you wrap trinkets, candy, money, gag gifts and gift cards in layers until it is a ball, then on Christmas we just pass the ball around to see who will get what) All these things I mention really don’t cost a lot. And I am able to spend time with my loved ones and make memories. That is what matters.
So to answer the question “I Don’t REALLY Hate Christmas DO I???” I don’t hate Christmas. I just don’t like what it has become in our society. I think it has become a materialistic holiday instead of a day to make memories. So this Holiday season I encourage you to make memories instead of getting wrapped up in the hoopla of the holiday season.
Take Care. Much Love
