The True Meaning of Christmas; It Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect

Christmas is coming! As a mom, you want your children to have the best one! You look over their list, you check your wallet, and start allocating your funds. Whether you have the funds you need or not, your children see Christmas by the love and attention you give.

As my children were growing up, our Christmas’ were made up of a gift from Santa and a few gifts from their mom and dad. Because I chose to stay at home, our funds were low, but we used places like Michael’s, $.99 Store, Walmart and Dollar Tree to create our magic. We made sure that we could find a present from their Santa list and directed all the other gifts towards their interests.

Looking back and speaking to my now college daughters, they told me that the small traditions and time together were the most important parts of Christmas. They remembered receiving a large present like a bicycle or scooter, like we all do when we were young, but the memories are all about decorating the tree, baking & decorating cookies, their special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, and going to see lights and playing board games. Simply reading Christmas stories and watching movies are still favorite memories.

Every year from the age of about two and four, we began giving them a gift at Christmas Eve on their dinner plates. It was always a Christmas tree ornament that was directed toward their personality or interest. After a few years, they began selecting an ornament for us! Now with them in college, they enjoy coming home and finding them in the ornament boxes and remembering when they received them by looking at the date. We love looking at the ones we received. I think that’s the time that the true meaning of Christmas shows up. These ornaments always bring many smiles.

I guess what I’m trying to say is our children don’t put a price tag on Christmas the way parents think they need to for a successful one. They simply want time with their parents and loved ones. Whether we are rich or poor, our angels only want our time. As I have worked in both types of wealth in school environments, children only want to be with their parents. I remember trying to get that gift they really wanted. Turns out they didn’t really put that as their top memory. I recall the Christmas’ where my husband stood on the line for Black Friday 20 years to save money on a bike or play car. It turns out that they remember some of their gifts, but those times turned out to be the fun memories for my husband and me.

Once they were old enough to understand money, they started saving their allowance and report card money to purchase gifts for everyone in the family. I would take them to the dollar store and they would walk around with one of their parents selecting gifts for their family members. As they got older, they would shop together in the store as I hung out at the entrance. It was a great time for them to become independent and use their math skills as well as figure out answers to problems on their own.

By this time, Christmas was about picking out the best gift rather than receiving material items. In their years growing up, they did begin to notice and realize that we didn’t have enough money as others. Ultimately, that didn’t matter to them. This activity of thinking of a gift for another helped them realize the true meaning of Christmas.

During this time of limited funds, we decided to take the money we would have bought each other gifts and purchased a box of food and small gifts for a family of four who were struggling worse than us. It made the girls notice that there are others who had less than us. It made them realize the things they had and how important they were to them.

Years later, others around us saw what we were doing and joined us by purchasing a gift for an individual child in our adopted family. Along with us, it helped my daughters see that others wanted to help others. Actually, it was a lesson for all of us to see that there is always someone who has it worse than us. Reaching out to those less fortunate was the lesson learned by all. 

So while you are trying your best as a mom, dad, or parent to create the best Christmas, remember, it’s all about the time you can give your angels and not about the price tag. Enjoy your hugs, kisses, and laughter with your children and make the best memories possible. Happy holidays!