Last Christmas I Gave YOu…
My family is more grown up now. We are all still at home, but there are no longer any little children. Basically each member of the family is doing their own thing each day. We don’t even get together for meals very much unless we go out to eat. We all usually like each other okay, but there are those moments, like in any family.
I had one of those moments last Christmas. Since I am the one who helps Santa Claus (;-)) the most, I am also the busy one around the holidays. I help get the lists, prepare for Black Friday sales, categorize and wrap, name and place all the gifts as Santa’s helper. So, likewise, I am interested in seeing the hopefully happy faces once unwrapped gifts are explored.
Last Christmas…. I couldn’t get anyone to get up out of bed at all. I think they finally started moving about, around 11 am. By then I was on my 2nd activity for the day and not in the excited to-see-their-faces place. I was already in a disenchanted mood.
Finally, the whole family was sitting in the room near the tree and gifts, but without anticipation or excitement. Our family tradition is that everyone has to be wearing something that can be filmed and nothing but stockings can be opened until all are present. It was more like a chore or following mom’s instructions to please mom type attitude. Well, that’s also no fun for mom.
After 10 or so minutes, one asked if we could all break for breakfast. Everyone chimed in and unwrapping recommenced after we all ate. The excitement of Christmas morning, the long awaited gifts, the surprise item, all got lost on this crowd. It was ho hum, with less patience in letting everyone see what everyone is getting. They even started trading with others for real wanted things.
Santa’s helper wants to see all the fun, and enjoy their enjoyment of fulfilled wishes and fun treats. Yeah, that was not present at all. It wasn’t memorable in the least. And I was fully upset with the whole process and production as it went down. And the kids always seem to know when something is up with mom. They don’t always know what the problem is, but true to form, they knew I was not pleased.
I also wanted the joy, but none of us got any last year. Inside my thoughts I tried so hard to keep it to myself and discuss my feelings later, not on Christmas; but my perceptive children wouldn’t let it go. Boldly I decided and announced, this was the last time I was gonna do this. It wasn’t gonna happen anymore.
I explained that I was no longer interested in doing all the work (self inflicted) and doing all the decorating cause no one was involved with it anymore. I re-announced this era of Christmas for our family had officially come to an end. They didn’t seem even remotely phased.
I wondered if they really understood what that meant to me. I was determined now. I told them to figure out what they wanted to do for next year because this traditional Christmas present-under-the-tree and getting-up-on-Christmas morning was officially coming to a close.
It felt like moments later they already had multiple ideas and were suddenly excited about a new tradition for Christmas. That was quick. They all decided on a Christmas trip. An adventure somewhere was the idea, using what would typically be our Christmas funds to fund the trip. And then, they had determined that a Christmas cruise to somewhere new was the ultimate first new tradition adventure.
Within a short while they had me looking up cruises. Christmas ones were pricey. Foreign ones were pricey. Adding both those elements together was going to be a challenge on our Christmas budget. I did eventually find what we all agreed on-a little closer to home and a little less exotic, but still interesting to all.
So this year, we are going to be on a cruise, on the water in the ocean on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I wonder how cool it will be? Hopefully it will be a grand start to a new era in our family. And here I am already planning for next year… wondering if I will even put out any decorations. Not knowing if we will be home, I am hopeful for the excitement and joy to be on all our faces. I’ll let you know!