I'm Tired of Feeling the Grinchy Spirit!

[Twisterdog]

My husband and I just had a heated discussion about this tonight.

I have never been one to buy my son "everything" he wants or spends an excessive amount of money on Christmas. I just don't think that is what it is about. I buy him a few nice things, sure ... but I also do things like getting a few of his favorite candy bars and packs of gum and wrapping them up. I want him to learn it's the thought and the love that counts, not the dollar amount.

My husband, OTOH, has always spent thousands of dollars on his kids. He seems to think they won't be happy and won't have a "good" Christmas if they don't get mountains of expensive presents.

We're trying to meet in the middle, since this is our first Christamas together since getting married, but it's tough. He's saying, "But we can afford it. It's Christmas. I just got my bonus check ..." and I'm saying, "But we don't need to do it. It's not the point ..." *sigh*

I'm just not feeling the Christmas spirit. I'm feeling like an ATM machine.

[JenBKR]

I am so glad that you started this thread. I haven't really felt much in the Christmas spirit this year, and I wasn't really sure why. But I think you all hit the nail on the head for me...Christmas doesn't seem to be the way it used to be. It has always been a magical time for me, of giving and love. But it seems that in the last few years it's gertting more and more about getting the best, most expensive gifts. I think that to change my feelings, I will change myself. I will also smile, help others when possible, even if I don't get a thank you.

Thanks for starting this thread, it's good to know it's not just me feeling this way.

[Anita Cholaine]

I agree with everybody here. I just can't feel the Christmas spirit that I used to feel when I was little. It's so commercialized, like if the only way we had to show our love would be by buying the most expensive presents.

Everybody gets so violent and stressed. It's incredible the ammount of accidents there are here on Christmas eve. It's so sad that for lots of people, the best way of celebrating is by drinking in excess and losing control.

You're so right, Chrstmas is not what it is supposed to be anymore. At least there are many of us who are planning to celebrate it in the old way

[finn's mom]

I don't shop during November and December, because the whole commercial aspect of Christmas is overwhelming and disappointing. But, as far as taking Christmas back, I never gave it up in the first place. I say "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" to everyone I can. If someone wants to say something negative back, that's the chance I take, but, I haven't had that happen yet. People either return the salutation, or say nothing (and I don't always take it to mean they don't celebrate Christmas, sometimes they don't hear me or it's a surprise to be greeted at all to them and they are shocked!). Anyway, I know what the holidays mean to me, and, honestly, just because I say "Merry CHRISTmas" doesn't mean I'm celebrating anything to do with Jesus. I'm not a religious person in the slightest, so Christmas to me, take it or leave it, is simply a reminder to love your family, friends, neighbors, etc. I think it's sad that people are so afraid to share the spirit nowadays. I am hopeful, though, that people will go back to what they believe in.

[jackmilliesmom]

What a wonderful thread you should see my thread about my husband and his Christmas Spirit - to me that is what Christmas is about and I truly believe that we should all live by that standard. Whilst most of my family close and extended buy gift vouchers at christmas my husband and I buy little gifts for each person and then we enclose a gift voucher also but that comes with their New Year Card and they get their little present on Christmas morning which I thnks is all part of the magic. We do not go in for expensive gifts as we feel that money is not the root of the Chirstmas spirit.

[borzoimom]

Vela- I could not agree more! and When did people stop caring? And donate to a " clothes closet" at a church etc.. Help someone with their cart- .. We are taking our Christmas back too..

[mruffruff]

I started to do this a couple of years ago, but I do it all year long. Open doors for others, give heartfelt compliments, give free bread to a needy neighbor, etc.

I still give my granddaughter a couple of gifts at Christmas, but I don't go wild. She doesn't need a lot of "stuff", so I put something into an account for her instead.

One year Santa left a dog house for a tied-out puppy.
Earlier this year I collected furniture for a family without any.
This Christmas I'm building a dog house for a needy Great Dane.

Jackmilliesmom's husband is my hero. He really has the Christmas spirit.