Our Christmas plans are changing this year, whether we like it or not. No daily Christmas activity during Advent. No picture with Santa (first time – ever). No time to watch Christmas movies together. Very little time to craft, let alone shop. Very little resources for shopping.
All this thanks to our big move, and most recently, to ballet, which has proven to be an expensive and enormous time-sap.
We have already reduced our Christmas celebration to a minimum in the last few years, to focus more on family, our faith, and helping others, so it doesn’t feel like there is much more to trim away. And yet, thanks to limited cash and an impossible dance schedule, we are feeling the need to improvise, to be creative, once again.
Perhaps saving our gift exchange for Epiphany (12 days after Christmas when it is Christian tradition to recognize the coming of the wise men)? Or perhaps twelve days of Christmas, where we would give our children a little something every day, as we are able to craft it, acquire it? We’re still trying to figure it out, and dealing with the fear of disappointing our children. And probably a bit about being disappointed ourselves.
In what ways have you had to improvise and be creative around holidays? Is anything different for you this year?
~ Jeremy
Here’s blog I like, with a posting about the ritual around the Twelve Days, and how they’ve made it work in their family. Good luck finding your new rhythm!
http://rhythmofthehome.com/2010/10/twelve-days-of-giving/
When I was growing up it was just me and my mom, my siblings were all grown up and had families of their own. We didn’t have a lot of money, which meant barely if any presents at Christmas. And while it was a bit hard to see my nieces and nephews with all sorts of great presents, it actually taught me to be thankful for what I did have & for the few surprises i was given. The present and tradition that I looked forward to the most every year was on Christmas Eve. Late Christmas Eve night after all the feativities, my mom let me open one gift, a movie and we would watch together. I’m not sure why, but i loved this and it always felt more magical because of the day and the late hour. I learned a few years ago that my mom loved this just as much as I did, which somehow made it even more special to me. Maybe y’all can find things like that, that don’t cost much. Even if you do them the days after Christmas, in order to fit them in your schedule, it will still be special. You could even make celebrating after Christmas, after giving of yourself to others (through ballet and other endevors) a tradition. Thank you for your blog, your insight into parenting and breastfeeding. I hope that your family has a magical, memorable, blessed Christmas!