My daughter is seriously thinking of cancelling Christmas this year. After spending so much time with you guys, I begged her to reconsider. I think she does not realize what she is missing unless she was part of an organization that told her she must never celebrate this holiday again.
To her defence, I know she is overwhelmed by the obligations of the season. With so many bills competing for her attention, she just doesn't know how she can cope with the gift-giving and other seasonal requirements. I told her if she focused on the obligation part, she will wear herself out. There are great organizations out there offering alternative Christmas celebrating, which have a lot more to do with joy and giving than obligation and expenditures. I went hunting for links, and I found a great one.
http://www.newdream.org/holiday/brochure.html
Perhaps you will find this brochure useful, too. I know for some of you there are no family traditions to fall back on, so you may be feeling adrift on how to make Christmas special for your family. This brochure is loaded with wonderful ideas.
I have also volunteered to have a craft night with my daughter, to help her reconnect with some of our fondest memories of Christmases past. I never did have a lot of money, but our little family sure did have fun being creative about it. I had a waiting list of friends that begged me not to drop them from my Christmas card list.
