I’m a Bit Grinch-y, I will Admit It
Written by Helga
Wednesday, 1 December 2010 12:35
So, it’s the holiday season. If you know me, you know I do not love the whole Christmas thing. My husband says I get grinchy-er every year. That might be true. (I’m not religious, please don’t hate on me for it!)
I don’t like to decorate. So I don’t. I don’t buy a tree. Though some years I will through a string of lights on the stair railing. My kids think we have gone all out when I do that. My husband is Jewish, so we do the Hanukkah thing with his family.
I never perpetuated the Santa Claus myth. You might say that would be easy to do since we lean towards the Hanukkah side, but kids really want to believe in Santa. I just couldn’t do it. Ditto for the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny. I told you I was no fun.
My husband & I just had a discussion about gifts for the kids. Between two family Hanukkah parties (and my kids bought each other a gift from their own money, imagine! I was shocked but they wanted to do it) I feel like they have enough. But, my husband insists, one gift from us won’t kill them or us and you will still get your point across.
I am always looking for that moment to get my point across. Take this morning, for example. My son piped up at the breakfast table, “I wished we celebrated Christmas” to which I came back so fast :
“Do you mean you would like to go to church on December 25th and celebrate the birth of Christ?”
Blank look.
“Or did you mean that you wanted another stack of presents?’
Guilty look.
I said “You have TWO Hanukkah parties coming up which will receive plenty of gifts, and already, it is not enough? There should be more presents for you? What are you buying your relatives that are getting your gifts?”
Another blank look and a mouth hanging open.
(My daughter was quick to point out that she didn’t ask to celebrate Christmas, that was all her brother)
I’m not trying to rob my kids of the whole ‘joy of the season’ thing, but it feels so manufactured, what with holiday items on the shelves at Target around Halloween, the commercials, Black Friday. That whole “better buy now or you just might miss out on something!” Puh-leeze!
And my husband says, they are six and nine years old, you can’t expect them to not want stuff. I agree but that doesn’t mean that I cannot try and 1. stem the flow of stuff coming into our house and 2. start the process of teaching them that it isn’t all about them.
I am not buying into it all. And, no, I don’t expect gifts either.
What about giving back at this time of year? Yes, I am all for that, and we do give to charities. Tonight we are going to sit down and discuss what else we can do – there are plenty of volunteer opportunities. However, my husband travels and works non-stop, when it comes to his time off, what he really wants is to not have to be anywhere. So we are unsure what the next step might be as a family.
Why limit the giving to December? Plenty of other months with people in need.
I pointed out to my little girl once, when we were reading one of the Little House on the Prairie series, how much Laura loved the orange she received in her stocking one Christmas. It had been quite a feat to get that orange to her, it was precious, and she barely wanted to eat it, it was so special. That one orange. If she had a whole table of oranges, well, no big deal. But just one. Like a jewel, she would hold it in her hand and admire it’s bright color, the bumpy skin, and anticipate how good it would taste. Talk about appreciation!
I don’t know if my little girl got it, it was a couple of years ago. But I’m planting the seeds here, let’s see if they grow.
18 Comments
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I'm a Bit Grinch-y, I will Admit It http://bit.ly/i4j8Cb
Major grinch! haha It's all good, Xmas has gone super Hallmark-y! RT @LiveGreenMom I'm a Bit Grinch-y, I will Admit It http://bit.ly/i4j8Cb
You know, H, you almost have the best excuse for not getting into the whole season, with your DH being Jewish.
I won’t hate you for not feeling the Christ in Christmas. That has to be found deep down.
I think what has helped me is to play ‘silent night’ and watch ‘The Grinch’ and pay attention to the last lines he says
and you will LOVE this as a greeny…
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags!”… “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.”
Even a scientist is believed to have a little faith~ AGA
A – that is the best, that last line! So true! I had forgotten that line, not having watched that show since, I don’t remember when! Thank you, thank you, thank you for the reminder.
RT @LiveGreenMom Don't hate me because I'm a Bit Grinch-y http://bit.ly/i4j8Cb
Don't hate me because I'm a Bit Grinch-y http://bit.ly/i4j8Cb
I hear ya! Way too much commercialism and greed in the holiday season… we celebrate Christmas, but every year I TRY to remind the kids of the reason, &talk about why “giving” became part of it (not “getting”). With kids age 5 – 14, some get it more than others.
Hang in there!
It is hard with little ones! It’s just their nature to want more, but it’s my job to curb it. My husband came up with a brilliant idea this morning, instead of us buying them a gift, we are going to take them out of school for a day and go to an indoor water park here in MA! I thought that was a super idea, spending fun, unexpected time together! they will be so surprised!
Thanks for stopping by to read and comment! We will be on MV for Christmas, as is our tradition. We always spend it with our friends JB & Heidi, maybe you know them, he owns Sharkys. Love Sharkys!
I'm a Bit Grinch-y, I will Admit – Live Green Mom: So, it's the holiday season. If you know me, you know I do no… http://bit.ly/gLq0Oo
Is she a Grinch or a Guru? You decide
http://fb.me/HxyLCBsf
I'm a Bit Grinch-y, I will Admit – Live Green Mom: So, it's the holiday season. If you know me, you know I do no… http://bit.ly/e1RgXV
RT @LiveGreenMom: I'm a Bit Grinch-y… http://bit.ly/i4j8Cb
No mama, you’re not grinch-y! You’re building a long-forgotten legacy of thanksgiving. I think it’s beautiful, and you’ve inspired me to take a better look at the “oranges” <3
Thank you Miss Green Beans! Hope you had the Thanksgiving you wanted, with all your planning and effort!
Nice to have you back.
I love this. I think it’s smart.
Thanks! Though I am sure my kids would disagree.
I am just not into the holidays… http://fb.me/MA6lcarW
I’m a Bit Grinch-y, I will Admit It http://goo.gl/fb/yBL6Q