The Christmas Spirit

[seclark]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

The season is what you make of it.

We lived away from both families and were making about an 800mile triangle on holiday weekends, with babies that just wasn't going to work long term.

Our families "rotate" holidays....We all go to my folks one year and then spouses the next, so we're all on the same schedule. Christmas, we do our best to visit both sides, and sometimes it takes 2 weekends, but family is important to both of us, and we want our kids to be able to spend time with both families for many reasons. That also means that we don't always get to visit all of the extended family gatherings, but we try to do what we can.

Christmas doesn't have to be stressful, doesn't have to be a burden. I know that I get significantly "more" out of the season since I've really understood that its about other people....family, strangers and neighbors I can spend time with or help.

Sometimes, I've wondered if some of the things I do really make a difference, and then I have experiences like last week where someone cries as they're telling you what happened with your anonymous donation through them, for example. I don't enjoy Christmas shopping at all, but I definitely enjoy making my kids smile. Both of those things make me feel better this time of year than receiving a gift ever could.

^^^^^^^^^gets it^^^^^^^^^^^^
sec