Family Christmas Alternatives
Last year at about this time, our kids approached us and asked if we could replace Christmas. They asked for a family trip and no presents. NO PRESENTS! When most of your kids are teenagers, and they’d rather spend time with you than money on them, you take stock. This might be the perfect time for a family Christmas alternative.
I stressed myself out financially, emotionally and although the tree was filled with lovely gifts, the feeling I had on Christmas morning was one of being disconnected. This was two months before The Purge when we decided to completely embrace a more minimalist lifestyle. The stress of the house, too much stuff, clutter, being overwhelmed, and disconnected were feelings that had taken up permanent residence within me. All the presents, the too-full stockings, consumerism on overdrive just amplified it all.
Later that day, Dane and I looked at each other and decided that it would be the last time we partook in the commercialism of Christmas. We would replace it. We would listen to our kids. The trip we took for Christmas 2014 had to wait until April and the kids were completely OK waiting. The places we wanted to go were closed until March so we planned to go on the kid’s Spring Break. It was amazing. The best. So many great memories, I can’t even count. The kids knew before I did that we were spending time and money in the wrong way. We don’t need stuff. We need adventures, memories. We needed to live life, not purchase it. By the time we went on the trip, our family had been purging for two months and we’d continue on for another 2 1/2 months before we moved to a smaller home where we have been much, much happier.
I don’t remember a single present that I bought last year, but I could spend a couple of hours talking about that trip. Naturally, this year is already being planned. Our plan last year was — one ornament each, new pj’s and stockings. Those are the traditions. This year we’re already talking about removing the stockings except for our 5-year-old and the kids would like to all pitch in to make hers special. We have some great ideas on what to do and where to go and I think we can get most of it done during Christmas Break this year. Planning the family trip is something I get excited about. We should ride the biggest roller-coaster. We should pet a giraffe. We should try the doughnut shop that got rated 5 stars. We should drink hot chocolate while riding the train. We should take too many pictures and build epic memories. We should shun commercialism and replace Christmas with something much, much better. Us.
Originally published at https://www.momof18.com.
Jenn is Mom of 18, Transformational Coach for Christian women, host of At A Crossroads with The Naked Podcaster, Author, Runner, Minimalist, & Healthy Lifestyle Advocate
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