Stop doing Christmas

This is by far the worst holiday of all. The materialism just appalls me. That is all that this holiday is about to 99.9% of the people who celebrate it.

I also got sick of lying to my kids and giving Santa the credit for buying the presents that I scrapped and scrounged to buy. This is so ludicrous to me. The children need to know where those gifts came from so they will really appreciate what went toward getting them.

What is strange is that I actually am married to someone who is a professional Santa. He has a white beard, mustache and long hair all year long. Children stop him every where we go. This part doesn’t bother me at all because it is very cute and innocent. Most children basically worship Santa. It is like he is their celebrity of the year. I just wish he was more about goodness and doing good things for the world rather than just bringing the biggest and most expensive present. I really think that’s where adults have messed this whole Santa thing up.

I don’t know how I will stop doing Christmas but I do plan to try. I think I am going to try to go away with my family next year to get away from all the nonsense. A cruise is sounding like a really good idea to me.

Well so much for dreaming. I have to finish up what I am doing now to get ready for a big Christmas party at my house, Santa coming tonight to bring the hundreds of dollars of gifts that I bought in his name and a midnight trip to mass with me being the DD for the partygoers at my house. ....and the beat goes on.

Patty

I guess when I get down on myself for wasteful spending I should remember I used to spend several thousand dollars and many many wasted shopping hours on this thing. I have improved, now I just need to complete it and actually become reasonable and wise with my money and time.

And I didn’t even get guilttripped. Bonus!

i went to a sample sale today (i work for a monolithic footwear/apparel manufacturer in beaverton, oregon) and RESISTED the urge to get my family a bunch of crappy & cheap sample clothes that they’re maybe wear while gardening, changing motor oil, cleaning septic tanks, etc.

I’ve told my parents, that was the hardest bit. They still want to give me gifts anyway, but at least they know it’s not necessary and I’m not reciprocating. I’ll give when I feel like it, I don’t need a designated day for it. Especially not everyone all at once. Extra incentive: Dec.25 is my husband’s birthday. I keep getting better at keeping Christmas out of it.

Talked this over with some of the family some time back and we’re going to donate $$$ to some sort of worthy cause in leiu of buying each other gifts that ultimately ends up being more stuff that we don’t need. And really, not having to stress over buying sh* (and getting them home) is a huge gift.

I’m not even Christian. My whole involvement is only buying gifts for other people to avoid guilt trips.