All I want for Christmas is...

My two front teeth,  goes the song.  Only about 8 weeks to go and a lot to do in between times.

What type of Christmas would you like?  In reality what I would really like is a simpler Christmas with lots less razamatazz.  Now the party poopers amongst us might say the stores are far too early in putting the Christmas bits and bobs on display - in one sense they are but in another, its something we can also take advantage of especially when there isn't much money about as there is a distinct lack of for a lot more of us this year.  Last year was tough, but money isn't going as far as it did last year.

When my mum was a girl it was a rarity to get a Christmas present; their Christmas present usually consisted of a stocking filled with sweets, and nuts and fruit and a brand new penny.  Mum recounts a story that one particular Christmas her Uncle Tom bought her a miniature china tea service.  It was very unusual to receive an actual present like this (Mum was one of ten and they lived in a two up two down).  She was so enthralled with it that she took it upstairs out of the way and on the way up the stairs, tripped fell down the stairs and broke the little china set - she was heartbroken it was bad enough to break it but to lose it on the same day as she received it  was ten times worse.

Rewind 70+ years - today's children want designer gadgets and it is all want, want want or has been up until this year but  I am hoping that this year parents will not give in to their off-spring as easily out of necessity more than anything else and only afford what they can.  Children need to be able to experience situations  that happen to family groups and see their parents' own reaction to such events as they learn so much from how their parents react.  To face a problem where there is not much money about helps teach the value of money by experience and to working out problems and finding a way round them.  If Children have no experience to learn from how are they going to be able to react to any situation that may come their way.  It is those sort of lessons that are special lessons they need careful handling - and of course I would not want a child to go without, but you have to be realistic times are hard.  Our children will still do well compared to our forebears, but I am hoping that common sense will prevail and that the emphaisis is on celebrating the season more simply remembering the real reason for Christmas i.e. the celebration of the birth of a special child to a special family and celebrating your own family and relatives and friends in the process.  To me its about making the most of what you actually have rather than what you haven't got.  It helps you live within the day and brings creativity to the fore as when people cannot afford to buy things they look for alternative ways of achieving something by either having a go at making something themselves, or buying something second hand.  Anything that is done with love and pure intent is worth more in the long run as it comes from the heart - is the best kind of love unconditional - now that cannot be bought or bottled  thank goodness, but we can teach our children where that comes from and how to achieve it.

I wish you love, warmth affection and good food  and special times with your family and loved ones - anything else is a bonus