Let me qualify this by saying I sort of have a policy about NOT shopping on "Black Friday" - the day after Thanksgiving, simply because I find the frenzy to be insane and ridiculous. I would much rather pay a few extra dollars for an item than fight my way through a crowd or stand in hours-long lines. And reading about the Wal-Mart worker who was trampled to death, and the two men who shot each other (in front of children!) at a Toys 'R' Us store just makes me think this world has gone crazy. What the hell is going on? Why the frenzy? Stores should offer us good deals every day and not put us at risk of life and limb by creating these stupid sales that attract thousands to purchase hundreds of items. There will never be enough items to go around at the sale price so people become animals scrabbling for the coveted item at the best price and look at the results.
I have an idea - how about we NOT become so obsessed about the latest and greatest? When my kids were little, I had another policy - no matter how much begging and pleading, I would NOT spend a ridiculous amount of money, nor become part of a frenzy for the most coveted toy. Forget it. It's just not worth it. And what kind of message are we sending to our kids? That Christmas is about sale prices and physical competition to get the coveted gift? Not in my book. Shop early......stockpile gifts all year long.....say "no" to the things you can't afford (or are not willing to jump through hoops to get). We've become so obsessed with Christmas and making it so perfect and magical that we've forgotten the important stuff. And I'm not just talking about the religious component. Whatever your beliefs, Christmas is a time to celebrate your family and maybe make a little effort to spend some extra time with them. NOT shopping. Doing stuff, like looking at Christmas lights and making cookies and watching Christmas movies you've seen a million times over again. It makes me sick when I hear of the crazy shoppers or read another article about "ten tips to overcome the stress of the holidays". C'mon! Holidays should be fun, not frenzied. Too much is just too much.
2 comments:
Two thumbs way way up for this post! I 100% agree that the holidays are a time for family and "the little things". We already have big plans for our Christmas in our little part of the Muslim World. Plans such as introducing Kaden to hot (luke warm) chocolate with a candy cane stir stick, helping Mommy make cookies, and listening (already on repeat) to the best and most over-played Christmas songs for a solid month!
AMEN Sister!! You will remember that Sydney didn't have a Cabbage Patch doll, Justine didn't have the latest Beanie Baby, Hayden didn't have a playstation until they were 4 years old, and this year Maddison bought HERSELF the new Ipod Nano. I am not going to shop the day after Thanksgiving for the rest of my life!! :-)
Love, M2
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