The True Meaning of Christmas

Christmas just keeps getting more and more fun around these parts.  We are now in full throttle with the Christmas hullabaloo - the advent calendars are out and updated daily, the tree is up and decorated, and the Santa lists are growing... and growing... and growing.  It is a delicate balance, this whole Santa thing, between encouraging your kids to get very excited for the fat man in the red suit's arrival, but also discouraging the nearly non-stop "I want...I need...why can't I have"s that seem to come with this season.  Adam is maybe still too young to associate Christmas solely with the present parade, or maybe it's just a different personality type, but I have found myself having daily discussions with Ethan about what Christmas is really all about.  And I don't mean that in the Christian sense of the word, but that Christmas is about giving just as much as it is about getting, that many children are happy just having food or clothes or shelter or their parents around for Christmas, etc. etc.  Of course, I don't want to be Debbie Downer and squelch all his childish exuberance for all that Christmas brings - I just want to remind him, gently and occasionally, to keep it all in perspective.  

Luckily, we are presented with many opportunities during this magical season to keep it all in perspective.  Ethan and I volunteered again at the food pantry last week, and it all seemed to click a lot more the second time.  He spent most of the night at the kids' table, helping the children of clients (who were going through the food line with me) make a snowman craft.  I think seeing his peers in an entirely different situation than his own was certainly an eye opener.  The boys' teachers are also incorporating lessons of sharing and giving and helping those less fortunate amidst the usual holiday activities, which sparks discussions at home.  Ethan was asked to pick one of his toys (as opposed to going out and buying a new toy) to donate to a local charity.  I love this idea because it makes the kids really think about sacrifice and sharing.  When Ethan had selected the toy he wanted to bring in, I asked "Ok, do you feel like you're done playing with that one?".  He said, "No, Mommy, that's not the point.  I want to bring in a toy I really like playing with because then I know some other little boy will really like it too."  So I guess, in the end, some of these messages I preach are being heard.

Hard at work on our "Dear Santa" letters.

Ethan's list.  Note no introduction or extra niceties.  All about getting down to business.   On the list this year : pillow pet, glue, truck, book, transformer, forest, Dora, farm, ornament, bug.

I sure hope the postman knows Santa's address?

Good thing there is a designated box with guaranteed delivery to the North Pole.

Where Santa will (hopefully) deliver said pillow pet, truck, transformer, glue, etc.