I’m Canceling Christmas And Here’s Why

No, I’m not Ebeneezer Scrooge. I actually LOVE Christmas. I love decorating my house and the [amazon_textlink asin=’B000JDGC78′ text=’smell of a pine candle‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’2154cb27-b04f-11e8-8ef0-a555d932a12e’]… I REALLY love getting Christmas cards in the mail and spending extra time with family. I love celebrating Jesus’ birthday and lighting the advent candle and remembering the reason we celebrate. I really do enjoy Christmas and the hype surrounding it. But this year, I’m canceling Christmas and here’s why…

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This idea of “canceling Christmas” came a few months ago as I was putting cash in an envelope to label “Christmas” and squirrel away in my closet. I like to save for Christmas all year long because HELLO, I know it’s coming. We typically end up spending a couple thousand more in December than a usual month on gifts, food, traveling, etc. I like to be prepared, so I throw money away each month to make it easier.

I walked out of my closet to find my daughter laying in the middle of the floor playing with an entire stack of paper plates. I turned and noticed the door to the “playroom” was wide open, a complete disaster, and filled with toys scattered all over the floor.

And that’s when it hit me.

Why would I spend another dime on toys that aren’t taken care of?  Toys that end up getting strewn across the floor and left for dead. The destiny of most of the tiny plastic toys is my dog’s mouth for jaw exercises. Why waste my money?!

Like most kids, my daughter has lots of toys- some that she plays with and most that she doesn’t. [amazon_textlink asin=’B01E07KYKO’ text=’She still plays in my Tupperware‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’340c1740-b050-11e8-a26e-ab7231ab7085′] and pretends Tigger is her baby. Everyday, she puts a Pull Up on him and serves him “breakfast” from those same paper plates I caught her with. She uses paper towels as a blanket when she puts him to “sleep” (yes, we actually own blankets).

This realization helped me decide that doesn’t need a whole new stash of toys just because it’s Christmas.

Thinking back, I could barely remember any of the gifts my parents gave me for Christmas. There were a few things that stuck out of course, but for the most part, I couldn’t tell you what I “got”.

What I DO remember is the time we took a trip to the North Carolina mountains (Boone, of course) for Christmas. We stayed on a ski resort (although we don’t ski) and I remember looking out at the slopes at the fresh snow and pine trees. It was a special trip because we had never taken a Christmas vacation before. My brother and I didn’t care that we only got but 1 or two gifts (ironically, these gifts I actually DO remember) but we loved exploring a new place and that Santa “found us” even when we were out of town. I don’t have those toys anymore but what I do have is the memories that we shared together as a family that year.

And to me, that’s what Christmas is about.

So, this year, I’m canceling Christmas. We’re not doing a traditional present opening round robin and taking a mid afternoon nap. I want to go out and gain experiences, not gifts. I want Cam to see more of the world and to remember the trips and memories we’ve shared together.

We’ve already taken lots of trips with her and she’s seen more than most two-year-olds. I love watching the awe in her eyes when she sees something new and exciting or when she’s experiencing something she only thought existed on television. I love getting to relive my childhood through her eyes and spend precious time together.

Don’t get me wrong, [amazon_textlink asin=’B071CVGNLY’ text=’we will still get matching pajamas‘ template=’ProductLink’ store=’poms2moms-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d072b2d3-b050-11e8-9f55-e3f0cb634e6c’], do family photos, head to church and do a gift or two. Oh, and my house will absolutely be decorated with more than 2 trees.

I decided I’m going to put the money I’ve saved to a fun family trip. Instead of watching Cam’s reaction to a room full of toys that she won’t care about in a week, I’m gonna give her a memory she’ll (hopefully) never forget. The usual “Christmas” routine is out the window and a new tradition is on the way.

So this year, I’m canceling Christmas.

Has anyone else changed their family Christmas tradition?