Christmas Thoughts and New Traditions

This Christmas is a tricky one. Growing up, we always celebrated Christmas by putting a real tree up, decorating together and wrapping empty shoe boxes to put under the tree. My father always said gifting was unnecessary for us because anything we liked, if he and mom thought was reasonable, we got, at any point of the year. We were not accustom to waiting for our birthdays or Christmas.

After marriage however, I realise how much importance people put on buying presents. My 3year old definitely is expecting gifts from us and Santa.

This year has been a tough one for a lot of people, especially most recently with Chennai flooding. With so much uncertainty surrounding us, maybe saying "Thank you" and "I love you" and meeting family and friends is the best present?

I have decided to start a new tradition this year with my boys. The night before Christmas, I will give them a gift box and in this box I will have a new set of pyjamas for them, a hot chocolate sachet for each, maybe a packet of popcorn and a Disney movie. They get to wear their pyjamas, drink their hot chocolate, eat their popcorn and watch this Disney movie with the whole family and go to sleep early so Santa can visit us at night.

Our first annual Christmas Eve Box will have Pyjamas, Hot Chocolate, Popcorn, Disney DVD.

It's also the time of year for family party games, some of my favourite include Pie Face Game, Uno, Carroms, Pictionary and of course a classic, Monopoly.

I just feel like we need this. I have beautiful memories of spending Christmas with my family and spending quality time with them with no pressure of getting the right gifts or expecting the perfect meal. We just enjoyed each other.

My suggestion for this year is take the pressure off. We have too many anyway. Write your parents a letter, even an email if that's easier. Tell them you love them and miss your fantastic childhood and can't wait for the whole family to be together on Christmas. Call your siblings and dare them to bring their happy faces. Promise no drama this Christmas and just enjoy being together with all the extended family. If you must bring something, let it be party games for the whole family,

We all need a good reminder that life is precious and as long as we have each other, we'll be ok.

For the budgeting type that have extra cash sitting around for Christmas, please donate to a worthy cause and help them see a light amidst all their uncertainty.

Merry Christmas!

Thank you for everything.

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