Oh how I miss the days of my youth, when Christmas was much different then it is today. When life was so much easier, and I got two weeks off from school.
Oh, how I look forward to the holiday season after the beginnings of fall take hold. As leaves are turning brilliant shades of autumn, and the air is turning colder, my mind wanders to what is coming next... snow and the multi colored lights that come with christmastime.
As I shop for my halloween goodies, the displays of CHristmas trees catch my eye, and I begin feeling the excitement that I know will be coming soon. I can't wait for Christmas!
By the time Thanksgiving is here, I am already beginning to feel the anxiety. Try to go to the store to get regular everyday things, and you can't miss the frenzy, as people are running you over. Well, Merry Christmas to you too, pal! I begin changing my shopping timeframe to avoid all these holiday shoppers... their cheer and joy is just so palpable, I can't stand it any more.
Last night at 8:30, that's PM, I ventured out into the snow to the store to do some holiday shopping. It was quiet. No one was running me over. I could browse at my own pace, without feeling as though I was blocking the aisle or something.
I began thinking about my childhood. Back when I got one present from Santa. I made sure I asked for something I really wanted, because I never got everything I wanted. It was good to want for things back then. ANd I actually got something I wanted, not something some tv commercial or tv show tried to tell me I needed. It wasn't about what johnny down the street was getting for christmas.
I know that we tend to idealize things when they start to get fuzzy. It's easier that way. Somehow we had it better than kids today. But I put a bunch of things in my cart for my daughter, and as I was walking out of the store I knew I would be returning some of it, because I spent too much... and it's too much stuff for one girl to get.
I struggle every year to keep myself from indulging my daughter too much. So far, she has been happy with what she has gotten. I see her cousins getting all these presents every year, and they complain and whine about them... but Emy has always been so excited... even if it wasn't what she had asked for. She is happy with stuff from the dollar store for crying out loud! And I hope to keep that as long as I can. because I tell her it isn't about presents...
i know we love getting presents, but for me it was never the presents... it was the anticipation. before i opened my presents, i would imagine what could be in those boxes! it could be anything! but once opened, it is what it is.