Cant get my Christmas groove on....need motivation

by Blackbird Singing 8 Replies latest jw friends

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  Blackbird Singing

  Hi All, Man I am having a hard time getting into the Christmas Groove this year, just cant get into it, i think i would bag the whole thing, BUT I have these 4 grand-daughters that really like me, my house etc. to be full of Christmas fun!! Any help, hints, etc. would be so appreciated!! Blackbird
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  jgnat

  • I am complimented on how I seasonally decorate my home but truly, all I have is a box of seasonal doo-dads and one shelf by the front door that I redecorate. Takes me five minutes. Kids like this because there is always something "new" to discover.
  • Spend some time anticipating your granddaughter's reactions to revive the flame.
  • Put some cinnamon and water in a pot on the stove before they come over to fill the house with smells.
  • Do some baking or crafts. Get a gingerbread kit and make together.
  • Start a new tradition. Children love this and even if you forget, they will remember! My step-mom used to get a life-saver variety pack for her children every year. When they grew up, they insisted she not stop!
  • I shop after New Year's and at closing-out sales, taking the picked-over decorations. You are going to find oddball things like purple ornaments. All the better! They are different and memorable.
  • Put together a family scrap-book or have a family story-telling night. Children love to hear these stories over and over.
  • Music?
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  LisaRose

  I don't know whet you usually do at Christmas, but I have found that some years I am more into it than others. I thing the shorter days at that time can cause some seasonal depression. If that is the case for you getting out and getting some sun would help. I live on the west coast, so we are in a major storm, no sun since Wednesday, and I can tell the diffence. I find that fish oil and B vitamins help with that.If that is not the case, well I think your granddaughters will be OK if you do a little less this year. The best gift you can give them is your time, they will remember that more than if your house looks like Santa's workshop. Have a special Xmas story to read to them or watch an Xmas movie. Take them to see a neighborhoid light display.

  You don't have to do everything you did before. If you usually bake cookies, buy some festive cookies at the grocery store instead. Scale back the decorations to the minimum. I don't put everything out every year myself, it keeps things feeling fresh. One quick easy tip is to get trimmings from the tree lot, they will usually let you have them for free even if you don't buy a tree. Lay them on a mantle with some twinkle lights, simple, cheap, easy and smells great. Order gifts online. I use Amazon, they even gift wrap if you want, they suggest gifts by age, quite a time and energy saver.

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  Blackbird Singing

  Thanks jgnat, Those are some very good suggestions, I am going to put some Christmas music on right now, One of the things I so looked forward to when I left the religion was being able to celebrate Christmas again, but after 25 years of not doing it I just havent been able to fully embrace it again!! The first year I did, We live in this little log cabin on the river, and I just had it looking so cute, magical....The husband is not into the x-mas scene at all (he likes when I do it, he just doesnt want to do it) so that kinda takes some of the joy out of it to! Anyway, Thanks for the ideas, Blackbird
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  Blackbird Singing

  Thanks LisaRose, appreciate the ideas, and I do get a little depressed this time a year, being very low on Vit D doesnt help! Blackbird
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  jgnat

  I once revived my daughter's interest in Christmas when it was all too much for her one year. I told her she had to drop all idea that it was an obligation (obligations are just work!), and instead recall the best memories she had and do those.

  I specifically did not mention that because I know so many ex-JW's are starting fresh an don't have the memories.

  But you do have a charming memory. Remember all those things that made it special.

  When my daughter was small, she did not have a lot of money. We did crafts, home-made Christmas cards. I in turn have wonderful memories breading the dried fruit for a traditional fruit cake. So what my daughter does is build a gingerbread house with her little girl every year.

  Yeah, obviously, my JW hubby doesn't help. He has no problem polishing off the fruits of my labour though.
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  Blackbird Singing

  I have "Wyonna Christmas" playing right now, I think i will make a trip into Micheals Craft store and see what I can find to do a little craft with a couple of my grand-daughters today! Blackbird
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  Glander

  Good looking kid, Mary. Can we have sex now?
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  Skbj

  Music usually does it for me too. I was out for lunch today and the restaurant had carols on despite not having decorations up yet and that put me in the mood so tomorrow I'm putting up my tree.