The Perfect Gift?

So I went spent the day in Red Deer with a dear friend of mine on Friday. Got the last minute shopping done for Christmas and hope that I don’t have to face the crazy Christmas crowd again. I can’t believe how many people are in the stores on an early weekday morning. (Don’t people out there have jobs?)We thought that if we started first thing in the morning we would miss the masses but we were wrong. We shopped til we dropped, went to see the movie The Holiday and then I got to eat for the first time at Tony Roma’s. The movie was good….one of those that makes you cry and laugh. I think they have taken a few scenes from my life to make it. You will have to watch it to see what I mean. I will probably have to buy it when it comes out. Tony Roma’s was fantastic. The ribs are outta this world!

With the hustle and bustle of Christmas I am reminded of how crazy and out of hand it is. The amount of money that gets spent for the sake of having the presents under the tree is astounding. While I was out in the malls I saw many big ticket items being carried away to place under the tree, although I am not too sure if some of them would even fit.

I think the Christmas we know and the Christmas of our grandparents has got to be so different. I bet you that finding that perfect gift for grandma wasn’t so hard for grandpa. That generation didn’t already “have it all” like so many of us already do. It is difficult to think of the “perfect” gift for my kids and still be able to afford it. How often do we do without like our grandparents did? I have to say that there is precious little that I need and don’t have. With that said there is precious little that I want and don’t have. (maybe some of those big ticket items and a new bottle of my Gucci perfume)

My thought is that when our grandparents were young there was a ton of things that could have been gifted. I bet Christmas was more about spending time with loved ones and being thankful for what they did have. Would it be too much to say that Christmas would have meant more then?

Christmas Sucks!

Well, anyboody who knows me know that I am not a big fan of Christmas. And since christmas is just around the corner, I am once again reminded of how much I dislike it. It isn't the celebration of our Savior's birth that I dislike so please don't be blogging me in horror of this travesty. It isn't the family get togethers that I don't like about it...although they have gotten rather stressful in the past. I don't think it was until last night that I finally came to the conclusion for the majority of my dissatisfaction with the holiday.
The minor part of my dislike with holiday would have to be the materialism that it represents. I think that I am really feeling that right now as a single mom of 4 kids that have rather expensive tastes. They have visions of ipods and other electronic gadgets dancing in their pretty little heads, way out of my league for this year. I know that is partly my fault for playing along with the bigger better present game in the past. My ex husband and I really conditioned them to be the way they are as the big Christmas $$$ was really a big part for his family. But now it is only me to provide the presents under the tree (and you all thought that it was Santa didn't you), a job almost too overwhelming at times. With that being said, let me share with you that backing up the bus is way more difficult that going forward.
I think the bigger thing that I dislike about the holiday is it brings back some unpleasant memories. It was 3 years ago today that my husband left us for a bigger better life that I we could no longer provide for him. (Enough said!)
Unfortunately I have been grumpy with the kids and as a result they have really pushed my buttons. I have to tell you that I can understand why some mammals eat their young. This morning I told son #2 that if I wasn't home today after school it was because I had found where mothers hand in their resignations. He quickly replied to me that was ok if I wanted to be a pansy like dad and leave them too. I guess that isn't an option!
The quickly arriving holiday season should be bringing us joy and good cheer and for some reason it feels like impending doom. I guess the thing is that I really need to work on is the attitude...either that or start drinking more. Maybe I will start with the drinking and see if the attitude will improve. I will get back to you after Iattempt to get festive with a little Bailey's in my coffee and let you know how it is working.