The Constant Christmas Question
J Gardener
As the calendar turns to December and Christmas races toward us, once again, parents everywhere try to juggle holiday plans-the parties, the pageants, the shopping, the travel-while maintaining their already busy schedules. And through it all, everyone wants to make Christmas most special for the youngest family members, the children.
And our kids let us know, well in advance of Christmas, what they want Santa Claus to bring them. They've been inundated, by autumn every year, with images on TV of the toys and games that retailers are promoting as the must-haves, this year.
And, of course, parents want to provide that magic which they know will light up their kids' eyes, as the gift-wrap disappears from those packages under the tree, and those treasures are exposed. To accomplish this, most parents fret for weeks and months about their ability to find every gift on their childrens' lists.
But a lot of parents also feel pressure from other parents to help Santa provide a great pile of gifts for their kids on Christmas morning. As parents and kids talk, they share their Christmas stories, recounting their holidays. Parents, whether they admit it or not, want their efforts at Christmas to be envied by others, so many may overspend on their children as a way of showing off for their peers.
Many experts feel that parents put way too much pressure on themselves and each other, to perform as Santa Claus's surrogates at Christmas time. With two-career households the norm, today, the real issue may be time, rather than toys. Parents today spend far less time with their kids than our parents spent with us. As a result, many parents try to compensate with gifts, activities, and other ways of showing their love. And many parents go overboard with this kind of compensation, especially at Christmas.
Maybe, when parents find themselves weighing one more trip to the store, just before Christmas, they should resist the notion, and consider how well that time could be spent just being with their kids. When it comes down to it, most kids would rather have an hour with mom and dad, than an extra stocking-stuffer.
Most Christmas toys are old and boring, by New Year's Day. But moments that parents and children share are lasting memories. This year, instead of worrying so much about where you'll find that particular doll or that specific game, plan some time spent just being with your kids. It's the best gift of all.
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