OK, so I lifted the title- we've got a Sunday School Class for PWYC (Parents with Young Children) at church,and we're dicussiing this very thing these next few weeks. Our intrepid leader, Nikki, has a book by the title above. Sunday, we talked about what kids REALLY want for Christmas. (Hint- it isn't the latest expensive toy!) According to the author, what they want is a relaxing Christmas, time with family, traditions and I can't remember the other one. Nikki gave us "homework"- to talk to our chidlren and ask them what they like best about how we do Christmas in our home.
The previous week, we'd talked about what WE liked best about our Christmas, what we didn't like and what we positively HAD to change. For me, what I most like is our tradition of Christmas morning: Mark calls to us that Santa has come- (he has lit a fire in the fireplace by the time he announces Santa.) Then we rush into the living room. Our stockings are placed carefully around the room, with all the goodies that Santa brings. We "have" our stockings, then some friends come over for breakfast, followed by the annual watching of Chicken Run- really! I JUST love it- what a great movie to start out our Christmas day- it shows the building of character, sticking together in friendship and perserverence, and it is outrageously funny. After that, how can you be stressed? Of course, I do sometime worry that we're giving our Christmas International House students a bit of a warped outlook on American Christmas, but since everyone is happy, what the heck! I just hope they don't expect Chicken Run the next time they participate in CIH.:)
Anyway, Nikki said to ask our kids what they like best- we couldn't lead them on, just ask outright "what do you like best about our Christmas?" We did, and to our delight, she said "breakfast with our friends and watching Chicken Run." We've done this every year since we moved here in 2000, which is when Chicken Run came out.
It really isn't about toys or how much we spend, it is about spending time with friends and family, sitting, laughing, and relaxed. There aren't many times that I think I can pat myself on the back for parenting, but I think we're doing this one right.:)
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