Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Days 644, 645, & 656: Trying not to dread Christmas

Christmas. The very word strikes dread into my heart. Each year I end up feeling inadequate and overwhelmed. The years where finances are especially tough are the worst and of course this year falls into THAT category. This week I have made a conscious decision to try and change my attitude. I must remember first of all that Christmas is not about the gifts I can or cannot give, it is about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Secondly, Christmas is about family and spending time with loved ones. I am blessed with an incredible family (both immediate and extended) who loves me and as long as I can spend some time with them around the holidays, well, the rest doesn't matter.

I have downloaded Flylady's Holiday Control Journal and I am trying to take the holidays a few steps at a time so I won't be quite so crazy in December. This is the first year that one of my children will have a significant other that they may want to share the holidays with and I am determined to start out right by NOT putting undue stress on them. As long as we get family time together, it will not matter if it's ON Christmas Day or if we choose another day.

So is anyone else dreading or nervous about Christmas? Do we need to offer support to each other to improve our attitudes? Or are you super excited about the holiday this year? Post your thoughts!

5 comments:

Di said...

I used to really dread all the family drama of who do we do what with and when. Thank goodness I only have one child! I am glad to leave the decision making up to you and Mandy....LOL I finally decided to not stress about it, and I usually don't anymore.

Chell said...

It is a stressful time of year. We have developed a schedule of holiday time and stick to it every year. The Sunday before is at my mom's, christmas eve is at my mother in laws, christmas morning is at our place and then we head to the father in laws for christmas afternoon. I always try to take the entire week off so it is not mass chaos.

Unknown said...

I too stress about holidays. At the hospital it is such a staff juggle and we all have to work a holiday. My son and daughter-in-law also have to work holidays and are taking Christmas to go to her parents, so probably will have to work Thanksgiving. My other son is in a serious relationship and will I am sure be spending holiday time with her family. I am thankful the holidays are about a season and just hope for one day somewhere in the season to be able to have them home!-- Might even happen in January? Last year my sister had all our family over New Years Day and had redecorated her tree with New Years streamers, noise makers and glitz, we played games all afternoon and took snacks, it was lots of fun and special family time. The hospital is always interesting and doctors take holiday time and leave doctors on call that don't always know the patients and it can be interesting. Always glad at work when the holiday season is over and things are back to normal. I just don't want my kids to stress about it so I am going to do my best to be extremely flexible, go with the flow and enjoy every special moment however it is.

Anonymous said...

I love Christmas! I love the music, the decorations, the food! I don't stress about buying gifts because I have never had the pressure/desire to spend more than we can afford. I know a family that goes into serious debt and thinks if you don't lavish your children with gifts, you must not love them very much. How sad. I am sure that when my children are married it will be a little more challenging to find family time but thankfully I don't have to deal with that yet!!! Keep focused on the Reason for the Season!

KiddoKare1 said...

Di, I try really hard not to think about those days, it still hurts a little bit. Chell, good plan! You are so organized! 50 plus, that sounds like a really neat idea your sister had, decorating the tree for New Years. Ginger, I know you are right, and I try.