Well another Christmas has come and gone. Each year it amazes me even MORE just how quickly the holidays go by. Is it because I’m older or is that how it feels for everyone?
Our holiday was OK. It could have been better if everyone didn’t end up getting sick.
Christmas Eve we went to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. We knew we had a lot of yummy food ahead of us so none of us ate lunch. By the time we arrived at the restaurant at 5:00 PM we were all starving and literally inhaled the salad and bread. Then when dinner arrived we all cleaned off our plates. To top it off we ordered dessert. I think that was “overkill” because by the time we left we were stuffed.
Normally after we have dinner we drive around looking at all the holiday decorations. This year we planned on going up the mountain where all the rich people live (mega-million dollar homes) just to see how rich people decorate their homes. We barely got half way there when my husband said he had to go home because he wasn’t feeling well. He said he felt like he had a rock in his stomach. Ugh!
We got home around 7:00 PM, which is early for us on Christmas eve. Usually we’re out to around 9:00 PM looking at the lights and decorations. The remainder of the evening we all wandered around like we were lost.
The kids finally went to bed around midnight. My husband dozed off too but I needed his help with the presents to I woke him up around 1:00 AM.
Normally we keep the presents in the basement (we live on the 3rd floor). This year we had the keys to our neighbor’s condo. He passed away this summer and we have the keys to keep an eye on the place for his son while they try and sell it. His son said it was OK for us to put the presents in his condo. That worked out great because instead of going up and down all those flights of stairs we only had to walk across the hallway.
I didn’t end up getting to sleep until after 3:00 AM. I woke up again around 7:00 AM to find my husband already up and still not feeling well.
We lied in bed until around 8:00 AM when the kids finally got up. My husband and I sleep in the living room (sofa bed) since we only had a one bedroom condo. The Christmas tree is int he living room next to our bed.
Our daughter woke up and said she wasn’t feeling well. She said her head hurt and she felt “blah”. She said she woke up around 4:00 AM not feeling well.
The kids opened their gifts while our kitten enjoyed her first Christmas among the wrapping paper.
Normally after the kids unwrap gifts my husband makes a big breakfast for everyone. Since he wasn’t feeling well we ended up with just some scrambled eggs, bagels and sausages.
The rest of the day was uneventful. My husband still did not feel well, our daughter didn’t feel well and I started not to feel well. By mid-day I was feeling lightheaded and dizzy. I pretty much spent the day sleeping on and off. I’d sleep for an hour, wake up for a bit, then fall back to sleep, and wake up again. I wonder if that has a lot to do with why I felt so blah?
We were going to have a nice ham for dinner but my husband didn’t feel well, nor did my daughter and frankly neither did I. My husband ended up having some toast and my kids and I had fish sticks. It wasn’t exactly a holiday meal. That is OK. We can always have the ham tomorrow.
Even though most of my family didn’t feel well today, it was still a nice day. The kids enjoyed themselves and that is what matters most.
Christmas also doesn’t seem the same now that the kids are older and don’t believe in Santa. They no longer have interest in holiday music or holiday programs.
Since we don’t have a fireplace we have a special “Santa Key” that we put on the outside of the door so Santa can let himself in. We also leave cookies out for him. Normally the kids fought over who got to do what. This year neither one of them cared to do either of them. I had put out the tea and cookies. At that moment I realized that our kids were grown up and Christmas was going to be different from now on. That makes me feel really sad. My husband too. We love the holiday season. We can’t wait to see all the holiday specials and movies. We listen to holiday music all month long, both at home, at work (my hubby does) and in the car. We get excited to put up the tree and decorations. It breaks our hearts that our kids no longer have the same appreciation for the holiday as they did when they were younger.
Sigh… 🙁
I have already told my husband that next Christmas will be different. I am already planning on volunteering our family to place wreaths on the grave sites of US Veterans (WreathsAcrossAmerica.org). I also think another trip to NYC for the holiday would be nice. Maybe we can find a way to save up so we can go and see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular next year. We saw it a few years ago and it was wonderful. It’s just beyond our budget, but if we put aside a little whenever we can maybe we can plan for that next year.
Maybe if we can find some non-traditional things to do it will help bring the spirit of Christmas back into our teens. By non-traditional I mean things that are different then what our family normally does for the holidays.
Next year I also want both of my kids to save some of their dog walking money to purchase toys for children during the holiday season. Maybe being on the giving end, rather the receiving, will help them too.
My kids are not bad kids (thankfully). I just think they lost touch with what the holidays is all about. I think they just need a little more involvement and to “mix it up” a bit to help bring their holiday spirit back.
If you have any suggestions I would very much love to hear from you. I’m sure there are many readers who have teenagers that perhaps have gone through the same thing. I would love to know how you keep the holiday spirit from every going away.
I hope you all have a beautiful holiday, including those who celebrate the festival of lights.
Kimberly
Betty Baez says
aaaw im sorry your christmas wasnt very eventful and i hope you all feel better soon!….volunteering to do that next year is a great idea and something you would enjoy, hopefully your new years is better 🙂
Kayla @ TheEclecticElement says
Oh dear-I’m sorry that you’re family didn’t feel well to celebrate the holidays 🙁 But it seems like you guys made the most of it despite being sick! Honestly, like you said, people have lost touch with what Christmas is about-It’s not about going all out-It’s about enjoying your time with family no matter what 🙂
I am glad you got to enjoy your time with your family and I hope (despite being sick) it was wonderful!
Vianey says
This was as interesting blog. I felt bad for you then happy then bad again then happy at the end. LOL
It breaks my heart that my husband wants to tell our 9 year old that there’s no Santa. I think she’s the only one of her friends that still believes in him. I like that she still does. It’s just so innocent and magical that I wish she’ll always believe in him. The church we go to always put out some gift requests on ornaments and every year our children choose one each and help me shop for the gift requested. They LOVE that feeling of giving to those in need. But next year I’m thinking of caroling with them at a convelescent home and sew some pillow cases for them but let our 3 children choose the fabric. AND next year we will be making tamales like I grew up doing with my family. Oh am I going to need lots of luck for that one.. LOL
Hope you are all feeling better and that your New Year is a healthy one.