Bah-humbug.

 

 

It the most wonderful time of the year…my ass. I am just not a fan of the holidays, more specifically Christmas. Thanksgiving is ok. Its not that I am impervious to the smell of blue spruce or the twinkling of lights or the jingling of bells and the added pep in ones step; I just don’t subscribe to the magical nature of the season.

1.       I am not religious. Therefore the “Jesus is the reason for the Season” and “Keep the Christ in Christmas” yard signs just don’t resonate with me. If Jesus is the reason for the season, then why so much emphasis on a big fat man in a plush red suit, or a reindeer with a glowing nose, or that damn Toys R’ Us catalogue?? I am confused. Did two holidays get all mixed and mashed up in one? It’s a birthday party and EVERYONE gets presents!?

2.       This brings me to presents…the very bane of my holiday existence. I like pretty things, I like giving pretty things and I like receiving pretty things. I like to see a HUGE smile sweep across my daughter’s face as she opens a gift that she has been nagging and pleading coveting. I like to surprise my husband with a perfectly thoughtful gift that he didn’t even know he wanted. I like splurging on a weird gift for my dad, or a funky piece of jewelry for a friend. I like hunting for the perfect gift for my mother-in-law. I do not, however, like being MANDATED  to buy everyone a freaking gift just because convention and the “magic of the season” dictates that I do so. And now, it seems it can’t just be one gift, there must be several gifts exchanged. It’s all too much.

3.       Too many traditions, too little time. OMG. My husband is a holiday traditionalist. If we do something one year, we must do it every year or risk ruining a tradition…its exhausting. Growing up, Christmas was a truly magical time of year for his family. They LOVED the pomp and circumstance, the decorations, the baking, the giving and receiving of gifts. 30 years later, I have acquired a Christmas torch that I am just not worthy of carrying. It too heavy. Too monumental. Too much history is in this torch and quite frankly, I cannot live up to the magic that this torch requires. I try my best throughout the season to continue old traditions and create new traditions that work with our new little family, but find myself continually falling short. If there are 20 traditions and I drop ONE ball, it ruins the holiday thus negating the other 19 things I worked my ass off to create. Its stressful, exhausting, and quite frankly I can’t make anyone happy.

4.       The consumerism of it all…can we say complete over consumption of things we do not need?? I mean seriously. We are not a “toy” house. We are not overflowing with gizmos and gadgets and lights and whistles and bins of shit that are never opened. We have a couple amazingly loved toys that make Ella happy for hours. Her favorite: A 1980’s Fisher-Price Family House with all the accessories, a baby doll, and another set of 1980’s playground dolls passed down to her from a family friend. That’s it. She LOVES them. I love that she is so creative in her play and can be so immersed in the world she has created. I don’t need more clutter. In fact, I love the idea of boxing up old toys and donating them to a women’s shelter. We are starting that this year and Ella is excitedly collecting toys that she wants to donate for other kids to enjoy. She makes my heart happy with her kind and generous spirit.

 

My sweetpea last year when she fell in love.

 

5.       My holiday season would be perfect if I could collect all my family and friends from all corners of the US and bring them together for the day. I LOVE my family. All of them. Even the crazy ones, the stubborn ones, the type-A ones, the young ones, the old ones and even the bible-beaters. They all have a special place in my heart and have helped shaped me. I am so very thankful for the lessons, the stories, the guidance, the support and the love…the intangible GIFTS that each person in my life has given me. These are the gifts that I feel so very grateful for. I feel blessed beyond measure and do not need any amount of stocking stuffers to prove my love. I would rather spend money on plane tickets to connect with each other in person, perhaps over a pitcher of margaritas -not on gadgets and gizmos. I am grateful for all the people in my life and for the time, thoughts and money they put into gifts for the season, but I find it unnecessary. Just knowing I have the love, support and friendship is more than I could ever dream of. Thank you for all those people in my life- I love you all. Oh, and keep a look out for the UPS guy, your Christmas presents will arrive shortly.

xoxo