I'm going to make a shocking confession right now. I don't know how to Christmas. I actually just discovered this on this very night. At 31 years old, I have no idea how to truly deck the halls with merry measure. You see, I was raised in a non-Christmas celebrating household. Christmas day was a day like any other during my childhood. Obviously I knew what Christmas was...sort of. From what I gathered from classmates and TV, Santa brought amazing presents, there was ham involved, a beautiful Christmas tree, and time with family you never see most of the year. A beautiful snow-covered time to make memories and tear open presents with the all the gusto and grace of vikings storming a village. Joyful.
The fact that I don't know how to Christmas came to light when I was on the phone with my mom this evening trying to book a Dream Works Dream Place experience. Basically for the low price of $39.99+tax(the least expensive package), you get an interactive Shrek/Santa's House/3D movie style sleigh ride, and of course you get to see Santa and receive a few pictures. The whole thing lasts about 14 minutes. Yes, you must make a reservation. And on this day, November 18th, all of the weekends and later evening times are sold out. So while my kids would love this, since my husband works insane hours during the holiday, there's just no way we could do this as a family. Well bah-friggin-humbug.
Anyway, during this whole debacle, I was so confused and lamenting to my mom as to WHY this was so pricey. Then I realized that perhaps this was the cost of meeting any mall Santa and getting pictures taken with him. A little research proved my summation true. Basically it'll cost anywhere from $10 to $50 for us to wait in line for an hour or more to get maybe one(if my youngest is having it) good picture with Ol Saint Nick. Or how about $64 for a family of 4 to ride any of the local "Christmas Trains," although tickets sell out months in advance. The list goes on. Not that these things aren't totally worth the memories or that there aren't lots of free things to do around this time of year. But at what point does it become gauche to put a price on Christmas?
When you become a parent, Christmas is all about creating that sense of wonder that only lasts until the scrooge of your child's class announces that in fact "Santa isn't real." Heathens. Even after Santa is outed as a fraud(oops, I mean imaginary), sure there are plenty of reasons kids still love Christmas. Most of them are gift related though.
As I learn how to do Christmas, I'm enjoying making my own traditions. I'm enjoying seeing my kids experience that sense of wonder that only Christmas time brings. That sense of wonder is something you can't put a price on, it is priceless. The sense of wonder that comes with writing a letter to Santa, leaving out cookies for him, and hardly being able to sleep while they wait to see if they can hear his sleigh. The sense of wonder that comes with the beautiful decorations that they see miraculously appear all over town and even in our home and on our tree. The first time they turn on the lights on our tree for the year, the sparkle in their eyes and the smiles on their faces warms my heart.
During this Holiday season I'll be sharing with you some of our family's Christmas traditions, a few crafts, and maybe some gift ideas too. But before I start all that, I just want to remind you that while you are making Christmas happen, shelling out the big bucks, and channeling the Grinch, find some time to enjoy the little things. Sing 'Jingle Bells' at full volume and completely out of tune. Drink a full fat peppermint mocha with extra whipped cream. Sit down to a book you've been meaning to read or call a friend you've been meaning to catch up with. Remember, you can't be Santa's little helper without a little Christmas spirit of your own.
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