As a parent, I feel like I’m constantly fighting the encouragement to over buy for my children on any and all holidays. Because I dislike excess and I’m fairly strict about our small space, I ignore the deluge but it does get old. On top of that, it seems like every single holiday is getting blown up into a large and very marketable occasion. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas decorations, the red and pink hearts of Valentine’s Day and the Cadbury eggs at Easter but I work really hard NOT to overdo it. I’ve said before that I don’t like buying or giving candy to my or anyone else’s children. I’m also pretty particular about toys which enter our home which puts me squarely on the no-fun end of the holiday spectrum. I own that. I’m okay with that. I predict when my children are older and observe more about our world, the begging will begin. And I really don’t like begging.
Aside from acknowledging my un-fun-ness, my hope is that my children understand the meaning behind the holidays we celebrate. I want them to celebrate the birth at Christmas and the resurrection at Easter. I want the holidays to be about being with family and loving and laughing together. Valentine’s may have no spiritual meaning but we love it because we can share red and pink hearts with those we love. I want my children to understand giving to others or even simply thinking of others instead of themselves. Because the truth is, all that junk we could give them, the toys, the treats and the sweets, that stuff doesn’t last. Time together, relationships and beliefs do. I want that to be the take-away from their years of holidays with MJ and me.
I read a fantastic post about the exasperating holidays and you just have to read it. I had a good laugh.
Also, there are lists upon lists of non-candy Easter gifts/projects floating around on the interweb if you are looking for inspiration.
Everyone is different so I am wondering what you think of the holiday pressure. Do you feel it or not? Am I just really no fun at all?
Tell me what you think!
Take care.
P.S. Come on back for a post later today!
Couldn’t agree more and as a young women (without kids yet) I STILL feel the overwhelming pressure of the holidays. I would LOVE to see things toned down a notch and brought back to the simple yet beautiful reasons why we celebrate.
I am definitely on the “no-fun” end of the spectrum too when it comes to unnecessary stuff.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how we can instill non-material-based traditions in our house that our kids will remember and love….traditions revolving around food, certain elements of decor, serious traditions like a Seder meal, more approachable traditions like an advent Jesse tree, and silly ones like making sure we take a walk on Winter Solstice. Obviously, we’re still working these out, since we have just one, and he is small, but I think about this all the time. Glad I’m not alone; here’s to combatting “begging” for the next 10 years :)
I’m so glad we are friends Liz. :) Combat comrades.
We made the decision not to do the whole Easter Bunny thing. We talked about and decided it makes no sense in terms of the holiday or our family values. We will give the boys small baskets with non-candy items but they will know it’s from us. For Christmas we have something you want, something you need, something you wear, something you read. Those are from us and then they get one Santa gift. It’s been easier to talk about buying gifts for kids in need this way. They believe every kid gets one gift from Santa and the gifts we buy their parents get to give them. I have to admit I get nervous that they will be the ones telling other kids there’s no such thing as the Easter Bunny and I’m sure my family will make a fuss about taking the fun out of the holiday. Lucky for us I’m quite content with our choices even if haters gonna hate ;
So glad you are taking my struggle with holidays forward. The simple traditions idea is wonderful. I feel so hopeful to read the comments from these thoughtful, intelligent women who “combat” the message of conspicuous consumption. The task is daunting! I am heading up the “Grandma Brigade”. Your aunties are on the front line!