AdventureDad

The Grinch is here with a few opinions about Christmas. The supposedly festive occasion known as Christmas is a great idea.  In theory.  Get together with family and friends,  receive a few gifts, eat some good food, get a short break from work, and just relax. Sounds fantastic.  In real life it's a period filled with stress, unnecessary shopping, money traps, cleaning, guilt, fights, stupid and expensive trips, too much food, and commercial nonsense.  The idea of a nice and relaxing Christmas break is something most people never get too experience.

Me and my wife realized many years ago what Christmas had become for a majority of people.  A period full of anxiety and stress instead of relaxation and joyous festivities.    For the past 15 years or so we've really enjoyed Christmas, done whatever we felt like, and refused to take part in the usual Christmas panic. I credit my many Mexican experiences for this, most Mexicans celebrate in a simple way without a mountain of gifts and stress.

My wife enjoys Christmas more than I do but we both agree  the supposedly nice tradition has become something we don't recognize.  As you know, kids love Christmas.  Daniel is no exception but Annika is probably too small to realize what Christmas and Santa Claus is all about.  So of course we give the kids a nice Christmas with decorations, Santa Claus, and a small number of presents. All very simple and relaxed.

Christmas reminds me of anniversaries and Valentines day, I'm surprised more don't feel that way.  I feel like any tradition that more or less forces people to give gifts or be nice is completely without meaning.  I will never understand why women think Valentines is so special.  Lets see, your husband never gives you flowers, spontaneous gifts, or take you out to nice dinners, but on Valentines he's forced to do so and that is supposed to be a nice thing? How about flowers on a Tuesday because you're such a great wife, some nice dinners here and here,  and a gift on a random day just because you found something awesome?  Seems nicer and more genuine to me.  

Christmas is unfortunately this way.  You must give gifts and be nice to people you  don't love.  Stand in line forever to buy silly and expensive gifts, often the day before Christmas Eve.  It's no wonder many people are going crazy and having deep depressions during this "festive time".  

We're spending Christmas with my parents and sister this year.  The first time we do so with our kids, and the first time in a long time we spend Christmas with any family.  We like having some freedom during Christmas although that might seem boring to many.  It's nice to relax and not run around stores, instead just take a few days off work. Who cares about presents today?  Both me and my kids are far happier getting a nice gift in July instead of  Christmas.

We're spending the holiday with family this year but only because we know for sure it will be relaxed and with few gifts. Otherwise it would never have happened. I remember how many presents were given during our Christmas celebrations 25 years ago and it still makes me sick.  I remember my  mom "slaving" in the kitchen  during all those years for a whole week before Christmas making sure we had unlimited dishes for a whole army.  And the house was impeccably clean after tens of hours of cleaning.  No wonder my mom was exhausted after Christmas.  It was a nice gesture  but seeing her and others stress this way sure taught me some valuable lessons.

My parents are under strict orders not to spoil the kids and instead just give them one or two little things. My only wish is actually for them to spend far more time with our kids so they get to know each other better. So far things are working out very well and our Christmas has been exactly what we like.  Relaxed and spent with family without nonsense distractions.

Christmas greetings from the whole AdventureDad family.

Categories: Christmas, Family
Tags: Annika, Christmas, Parenting, parents, santa claus, valentine