It’s a tough holiday season again! So much snow! And today we are getting blizzard winds, so last minute shoppers are getting slapped for bad behavior from Mother Nature itself. Driving is ridiculous and of course, everyone is out doing it. Last minute gift giving now a wide spread panicking inducing event. Good luck humans!

Christmas always makes me remember the years I couldn’t do for my family, we were so poor. I hated knowing my kids would be the ones who didn’t receive the “cool” present and multiple presents was also not a big topic. It was heartbreaking. How do people keep up with the unexamined expectations of gift giving, party going and sober staying? After all this time it’s no different except that “no, I couldn’t find one…” gets to be a harder phrase to stand behind on Christmas morning when “we couldn’t afford it” is the real answer. They can check Amazon as well as you.

Bu this year is different because no one knew Amazon would go to a crawl when the weather turned ugly. Delivery is nearly impossible before Christmas this year. So suffice it to say, Santa’s going to have a lot of explaining to do on Christmas morning. And the sounds of disappointed children will ring out across the universe. How will the households handle it?

Did we really need Santa and Christmas to turn into a huge commerce situation or worse make Santa an actual being who makes or breaks Christmas because you were “bad”. We all know Dad’s bad, he gets presents, WTF.

Back in the day kids had to be reminded a family’s budget was a real thing and money didn’t grow on trees, even if it seemed at certain friends houses that it did, no that’s not Gods’ blessing for them, Life is Gods’ blessing for us all. Santa’s gift originally was in celebration of life to remind us of that fact. Not a celebration of your caretakers material wealth. Santa was treated like a mystery so mystery could exist for every child but greed showed up and changed the game forever.

We need to teach our children well. So tricks like so the arrival of so many presents looks exactly like what it is… it could be greed, shame, guilt, but just as love means never having to say you’re sorry, as far as Christmas goes, love doesn’t need the exchange of lavish gifts or even a gift, to show itself and your loved ones best know this. Love itself is the greatest gift you can give and the most often ignored.

Every child wished they could have more of YOU not the stuff You give, that’s number 1, oh I bet its the same for your other family and friends too. Number 2 giving in its truest sense is NOT desiring a gift in return. If you can’t give without this thought do not give at all. Number 3 Teach your family that the gift you share is just a token of how you feel, or a recognition of their place in your life. Be the example and not the spoiled brat who didn’t get what they wanted.

Treat the season like a love fest not a greed fest, it’s not a competition, it’s hey, I love you enough to want to recognize that. And know I love you enough to want to share that.

You’re doing a great job, I just know you are!!!! Stay Sane Santa!