And on to Christmas

On this day of Thanksgiving, I couldn't keep the thought of the next holiday from my thoughts. Perhaps it was because of the gathering of relatives en masse which in itself is unusual unless there's a funeral, holiday, or similar outstanding occasion. Of course my mind dwelled on those whose physical presence is sadly missing but it also went to all those present who would end up on my seemingly endless shopping list for Christmas. As the family grows, your list lengthens or you start eliminating the older in favor of the younger. Some families draw names but we gave even that up years ago. Parents are never removed from the individual lists but siblings fall by the wayside more often than not. What once was a time to look forward to with excitement and expectation, becomes a tireless trek through store after store in search of hopefully just the right gifts or eventually whatever your tired mind and body can amass. Hopefully, you manage to get it all done without losing all your good spirit.

What is it about today's time where children receive all year long whatever their little hearts desire? Is it because we're so blasted busy supporting them and earning the money that it's easiest to placate their needs with material possessions? Is it because we're so tired that sitting in front of a television, computer, or game each night is preferable to being involved with them and so it's okay if they vegetate in front of the television in imitation of us? I not too long ago stated to someone that it was due to the economic times and societal expectations which drove both parents to work thus leaving the children in the care of non-disciplinary relatives or whomever and creating a lost generation of kids. On second thought, however, I believe it goes deeper than that. It's not because both parents are forced to work that kids are directionless and willful these days. We can find them suitable care during our working hours, we can allow others who watch them some disciplinary license and, in our non-working hours, we can be their parents...not just being peripheral in their lives, but involved. Turn off the electronics...see the children, hear them, interact with them, know them. Contribute half their toys and games to the less fortunate and give them a book, teach them to exercise their imagination, see what the world has to offer together. Get out from in front of the television and back to the dinner table as a family. Limit the television to one per household and decide as a family what shows will be watched...or use a recorder. Limit the computer online time not only for them, but for ourselves. Limit what we buy for them each day so that they too have something to look forward to with excitement and expectation.

My siblings and I laugh at our childhood toys and the memories we have of using our imagination to create entertainment. Most of our tv time centered around cartoons and we didn't have games to bury our heads in. I had the best of it all because I was an avid reader so that even if the other four were bored, I was content and would read the same books over and over again or simply take a walk into the woods and make up my own fantasy worlds.

Despite my rant, I'll be sitting here creating a list which will add another useless toy or gadget to someone's household. My bank account will contain much less by the holiday and I will spend the next year recuperating financially just for it to come around again. I do have a choice in what I purchase, however, so this list will take a great deal of thought. Maybe I can come up with something not so useless after all. By the way, regardless of the impression I give here, Christmas is still the best time of the year.

I wish you all a safe and carefree shopping season. And, for those of my friends who don't celebrate Christmas, I wish for you all the patience in the world with putting up with the shopping frenzy.