Christmas is my favorite time of year. It’s a time where my heart is full of gratitude and love. My memories of Christmas growing up are filled with Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers Christmas music, Simani and other Newfoundland music. The Mummers Song is still a favorite. I’ll never forget the time my Nan dressed up as “Granny” when our Grade 12 class acted out the Mummer Song. It’s a memory I’ll always cherish.

I remember visits with family and friends. It was always a time of Christmas drinks, hor d’oeuvres, dancing and great laughs. Sometimes mummers even showed up! Now, it’s so different. It’s not the same. Unless we are hosting, it seems like not many get together and celebrate like we once did. Makes me sad. Oh if our boys could only grow up and experience Christmas like I did as a child….. The memories they would have!! It’s my responsibility as a parent to ensure we create traditions and fun memories instead of gifts.

Christmas gifts were items we needed, like clothes and maybe one toy. And whatever we got, we appreciated it as if it was gold!! Now, Christmas seems to be throughout the year. When your child needs something, you go buy it. We don’t wait til birthdays or special occasions to get what they need like we had to when we were kids. While it maybe a good thing that we are able to provide for our kids, it makes shopping for them and others so much harder! Why do we need to buy something just for the sake of it? My parents couldn’t afford to buy expensive gifts and we (my sister and brother) never wished for or expected them. Christmas was so much more simpler back then. It was about quality family time doing things like baking, decorating and making homemade Christmas ornaments and lets not forget about the turkey dinner! Oh how the times have changed. What have we done to Christmas? Why have we changed? Why do parents buy such expensive gifts and why so many? We try to teach our kids that Christmas is about giving, kindness and Jesus birth, yet go overboard making sure they have plenty. We were guilty of this. When I was a child, we didn’t get gifts from family members, and we didn’t expect it. Who could afford that? I mean there were too many cousins! Now, it’s almost as if it’s expected. It’s too much.

I don’t know about you, but I know that when Christmas time comes, by the time all the gifts are put under the tree from family and friends, sure Santa don’t even need to come! The boys would open up all the gifts, play with each one and then put them aside and only pick one or two to play with regularly. There were too many. So we made a change. Now, we told our boys Santa brings one item. That’s it. Daddy and Mommy will get you one or two things and that’s it. And you know what, last Christmas was perfect. We spend less on each child Christmas time and they are better off(and so is our bank account!). This year when asked what they wanted for Christmas, their response was whatever anyone gets us we’ll appreciate. Because it’s not about the gift. Christmas is about making memories, spending quality time with one another and doing whatever traditions your family has. When your child grows up and they think back on their Christmas memories, they won’t remember the gifts! They’ll remember your family traditions and special moments that brought them joy. Remember that when you’re about to go in debt buying a gift that you can’t afford. Presence over presents!

As I sit here listening to Dolly and Kenny singing while I drink my Christmas slush (I made a new recipe this year and it’s delicious! It’s cran -raspberry and lime, yum!), I can’t help but feel blessed and grateful. There are so many people out there that would love to be in my shoes….Whether it’s to have a family, better health, a home, job or maybe just more time.

Time-it’s the most precious gift that we take for granted next to our health. We may wish for more money or a bigger house, or better things thinking it will make us happy but I’m sure if you asked someone who has money or a big house or whatever, they’ll tell you it won’t make you happy. What about someone who is fighting for their life because they have some sort of terminal illness, do you know what they’d wish for? My guess is more time. More time to spend with loved ones, to travel, to fulfill their dreams. More time to make memories! Because when it all boils down, time is the most precious gift of all. We only get one chance on this earth, and tomorrow is not promised. So this Christmas, spend less money and more time with your family. Keep it simple and I can guarantee it’ll be worth it!