I have to admit that a part of me was sort of dreading decorating for Christmas this year. Yes, I was excited and looking forward to the season. But this was the first time I would be pulling out my Christmas items since the crumbling of “What Was“.
I worried it would be like inviting the Ghost of Christmas Past into our home, and it would be compared to how it used to be.
I didn’t want it to be unrecognizable for the children, but Randy and I were also committed to doing it differently. Not just from how we’d celebrated it individually, but also from the way society feeds it to us. It didn’t make sense to cling to things that are just that: things.
So those items have been kept wrapped and stored safely for the children to have one day, if they choose to keep them.
This year is about creating new traditions and memories as a new family and being (wait for it) purposeful and intentional. Asking “Is it sustainable?” Keeping with that thinking, we are making all of our decorations, and are slowly adding things to the tree as the season moves forward.
We’ve made it more about the process and the entire season, rather than racing manically towards one day.
There is still plenty of candy and yummies. But there won’t be a bajillion gifts under the tree; gifts that, I’ve learned, are usually discarded and forgotten about well before Valentine’s when they realize that nothing will ever replace their beloved Lego’s and drawing paper.
We are welcoming the Christmas season with welcome arms, and in doing so, we are celebrating Christmas Present.
