I used to take the whole decorating for Christmas thing pretty seriously, especially when the kids were little.
I wanted to re-create for them the magic of Christmas that I experienced when I was a girl.
Our Christmases weren't extravagant at all, but Mom put a lot of thought and care into choosing "just right" stocking stuffers and other small gifts to go with a big gift or two.
That was no small accomplishment with there being five of us.
Now it's just me and the hubs, and I'm asking myself, is there really any need to put all that stuff out?
I love the festive look when it's all done, but I don't particularly enjoy putting it up, and I especially don't like taking it down.
Do I dare break with tradition? With Thanksgiving coming so close to Christmas this year, I've got to decide soon.
Dunh dunh duh....
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Although I am a man, husband and father, I feel the same. For years I spent hours each December putting up the trees, the lights, the wreaths, and setting out the religious and secular trinkets to fill the house with "the season". My son was my number one helper and he was always at my side, digging the attic for the 3 dozen boxes of "stuff", going with me to buy the multiple trees we put up in the house, untangling lights, getting the ladder, handing me the hammer, unpacking the ornaments and hanging all the tree toppers. He is gone to college now and when I open the attic door and see all the boxes, it is just no fun thinking of doing it all myself. My wife is a minimalist and although she loves our "things" she doesn't want ALL of it out. My daughter is 16 and she has no interest in helping me and looks upon our things with a smile but no passion or desire to partake in the decorating of anything. This year I opened the attic door and felt a stab in my chest of depression and sadness. That part of my life is over and it is just no fun anymore. I used to love Christmas, being with my kids, being silly, creating stories for them and reinforcing the idea of Santa until they were well past the time they should have been told the truth (or figured it out). I put up 2 trees this year and a lighted wreath on the house. I just do not see the need for all the stuff anymore. I will celebrate the birth of our savior on Christmas Day. But the holidays are different now and seeing all the stuff reminds me I have gotten old, my kids are older and a huge part of my life is now over and gone. maybe when grandkids come (in 10-15 years) it will reignite the fire in me But, for now, I am reminded of Christmases past, and the joy I once had, and it is now over.
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