A Whole New Stu: December 2012

Growing up, my parents always made or chose gifts for us that meant something. I remember them all! Skates, a round metal sled, skiis, a cherished game "I took a licken from a chicken," a play kitchen, my mom made my brother "C" and I quilts (the SOFTEST ever) in our favorite colors topped off with a special stocking full of fruit and goodies. We never had much, but we had more than we needed at all times, and great care went into chosing our presents. My folks wanted our Christmases to be MAGICAL in every sense.

I'm disturbed by the "new" Christmas. It saddens me. Now that I have a family of my own, it donned on me that we can create our own Christmas and traditions. We don't have to engage in all the plastic Christmas boobery that is plaguing our holiday of late. I want my Christmas back! I want Monner to grow up remembering each and every year as a special one. Here's what we did, and the traditions we have created.

We shop online, craft stores and local shoppes. We make the presents when we can. This year the ladies in the family received our home-made cleaning products, with special labels and baskets that Monner helped produce. There was Banana Bread and necklaces made by a local artisan friend.

We adopted a family of four. It's anonymous, except for that they make a list of each family member's wishes. The wishes were small. A jacket. A small purse. A blanket, some books, shoes. SHOES. I encourage anybody to adopt a family. It's an indirect way to make a HUGE impact on somebody's life.

In our Village Santa visits every girl and boy atop a fire engine just before Christmas time. You can hear the caroling coming from a mile away. It's a Toys for Tots gig for the local fireman. They send the "elves" to each family curbside. This year Allie had a dollie or two to give. I didn't think there was any way in hell she'd give up her beloved (beloved is an understatement) babies that weren't even opened yet. To my amazement, she handed it over to the "elf" and said "thank you." Thank you. My heart swelled. My kid. Gets it. Magic may commence after all.

It was a magical Christmas. We are blessed and can only hope that we are well enough to bless those around us.