November 23, 2013

Simplify


I always find the holiday extravaganza a little disgusting. And yet, I play along with it - overindulging, overspending, and over-everything. I don't want to do that this year. I want it to be a special time, a memorable one for C-man. And  yet, I look back at photos of Christmases past, and look at all the waste - the gifts that were barely touched, the excesses that were just too much.

So this year, I'm on a mission to make it simpler. The gifts will still be there. And so will the food. But this year, I want to do something special to make it actually all mean something too. Maybe even a tradition of sorts so that C-man remembers that instead of the gifts. Something to consider as I sit knee deep in the middle of the retail commercialism.

2 comments:

l'empress said...

This may not be your style, but your C-man is old enough to understand the value of spending some time helping out at a soup kitchen or a homeless shelter.

Kim said...

I find the extreme gift giving to Nth degree to be overwhelming, and all the overeating too. I think disgusting is a good way to describe it. For years now, if I want something and I can afford it, I buy it. So many "things" my daughter has goes untouched, unused, unworn. I found myself with $60 in Kohl's cash yesterday, wandering around just trying to decide what I would forced to buy because I truly didn't NEED anything. Hurray for Starbucks K-cups!!!

The husband bought himself a new camera, so I'm hoping that my gift will be to travel for a race somewhere this year "guilt free" using cash. I have no idea how to simplify it for my kid, maybe I can talk them into a day in Chicago or something. Let me know what you come up with!