HO HO HO!

Christmas is coming. Where families gather. Love is expressed. Even in some places (NOT PHOENIX) there will be snow. We will dress warmer and stay in more. More people start attending churches and become religious until New Years Eve.The time where parents want to spoil their kids and kids ask for the unrealistic gifts that will bankrupt the family. As parents we set out with huge goals. “I want to get this and that and OH look how about this?” Then we end up with ginormous credit card bills come January. You know the ones you just finished paying off in November?

Children write out these elaborate lists of items they want. For example I bought something for my 11 year old that I just know he will be super excited for. When I told him he would be excited his response was “Well all I want for Christmas is a cell phone. If it is not a cellphone I do not want it”. Ummm excuse me little mister rude? If this was not my own child and I heard this in public I would be like “Umm mom you better not be getting that child anything for Christmas and teach that boy a lesson” or I would be thinking “WOW! Your parents haven’t taught you any respect and you are the worse!” But this came out of my own childs mouth! How do I judge myself? Oh very easily! I tried to handle this situation the best I could but I felt my blood boiling. There may have been threats of no presents at all and that I was so ashamed that he would even think saying that was ok.

I reflected that evening. As his parents we are to blame, partially. We spoil them with gifts and gifts for Christmas. In our mind it goes like this “We want them to have the best Christmas ever!” so we buy every little thing that we find that we believe they will like. When this happens you are filling them with ideas of how Christmas is about what presents you open. Yes, it is nice for them to get presents and we love seeing their faces when they get what they wanted. This isn’t putting anything but selfishness in them.

Well my husband and I decided not to go that route this year. We are wanting to make sure our children grow up being grateful and caring. So this year I have told the kids they are only getting 5 things each and we will pick out a family to donate Christmas presents to. They are super excited about picking out the family we get to donate to! Hoping this brings them more to the realization of what Christmas is really about.

Merry Christmas Readers!

Why Am I Sticky