Wanted to share...

on one of the "mommy sites" i am on someone posted this and i just thought it was so great i had to share...christmas really is not about the gifts!!

I've been reading the posts and hearing lots of frustration regarding bills overdue, financial crisis and stress over not being able to provide the gifts you had hoped for your children this holiday season. Its frustrating, I know. I CHARGED Christmas gifts last year and should not have. The doll that my daughter HAD to have Chou Chou teething doll was AWESOME on christmas morning... and for about 2 weeks.... and then the novelty wore off and she gets picked up maybe once a month...
Momma's WE HAVE A CHOICE !!!! We can get stressed, feel bad, cry, compare ourselves and "our pile of gifts under the tree" to other peoples, etc..... or we can CHOOSE to have the best Christmas we can and fill it with love, making memories and giving of OURSELVES to our children. My mom said "the best gift you can give your children this season is a calm and loving mother"
Christmas is literally a celebration of Jesus birth. Jesus would not feel honored by all the materialism placed on this holiday. Our culture has drastically changed what Christmas is all about.
My baby is too young to know or care about the gift stuff. She's still happy to play with the wrapping paper and bows. My big girls are 6 and 8 years old and this year for Christmas I am going to give them ME !!! MY love and MY time. Sure they will get a toy present or two .... but instead of going in debt further- I am going to let them unwrap simple gifts like a box of brownie mix and a wooden spoon and a cooking lesson. A disposable camera that THEY can take photos with when they get mom's photography lesson and later the thrill of seeing their own photos when they are developed.
I would just encourage each of you, when you find yourself stressing and feeling bad, sit back and think about your childs personality and what kind of life lessons you can turn into a gift. Find the positive and work with that. And remember its not just you, most of us are struggling this season, your holiday will be what you make it, it doesnt have to be lots of expensive toys and presents this year.