Thankyou everyone who took the time to leave such encouraging, understanding, helpful and thoughtful comments on my last post. I was very touched by the desire to help and so I thank you all with all my heart.
It was very re-assuring to see I'm not actually the Chrismas Grinch and that many of us simple living folk have the similar feelings we are either working to overcome, or have had to overcome in the past.
I'm sorry I didnt reply to them all. I have read them and re-read them and have been pondering many elements. They have been marinating in my mind but I saw them, and was very greatful for them.
So, where am I now?
Well firstly I should have clarified *we* dont have trouble with the gift giving to our children. We tend to go with "something to wear, something to read, something you want and something you need."
So the boys are getting from us:
Wear: PJ's
Read: (still deciding)
Want: childrens Opinel pocket knife, Henry I'm not quite decided upon, a marble run?
Need: Cotton Sleeping bags
Stockings will include marbels, chocolate, socks, jocks, and something special for each child - William will get a few polished stones for his collection, Henry a little owl finger puppet, Gus I havent decided yet. The PJ's and the books are usually in the stocking too.
Its the excess that comes in which we have no control that concerns me. But I do believe we have started a new tradition with one set of Grandparents happy about giving zoo passes! Woo hoo!
As far as Christmas day goes.....Well we have been having many discussions about this. Its not just up to me to say "no". We are a family and the decision of how we celebrate christmas must be a united one between Grant and I. We have however now decided that every couple of years we will have start to have Christmas at our own home. This is a huge change for us and one I am greatly relieved about. People are welcome to join us if they like, but we wont be doing all the travelling, and we will get to start new traditions with our children.
Apparently "Jimmy" needs a ninja outfit...hmm....
This year we are going to hold our own "Pre- Chistmas day" at home. Just our family. Buy beautiful seafood, light candles, go to church Sunday morning, maybe go to the beach, and give the boys a small hand made gift each, just to make it a little "magic" William needs a new libray bag and I have the material sitting there, Angus would love a Ninja outfit for his waldorf doll, and I will either applique a cat on a tee-shirt for Henry or make his Waldorf doll an Ninja outfit too. This special day will be a week or two before Christmas, nothing too fancy, But Im really looking forward to it. I feel more "at peace".
There is a Christmas pagent on this Friday in a town not far from us they will enjoy, and I think taking the time to simply "be" is perhaps going to be the most important thing. I tend to get tied up in the "do-ing" of everything around here that has to be done, that I forget to just "be" at the moment.
I listened to "Matilda" by Roahl Dahl today in full by audiable, I love a good kids book. and it got me thinking how little reading I have been doing latly. Gosh I miss it. It dawned on me I have not been caring for myself as well as usual. Which means I was going into the Christmas season with an emty tank, after a long hard year no wonder I was feeling tired and flat and dis-heartened.
One of our favorite things are Audible - audio books. The first month is free and awesome for road trips or quiet nights.
The Christmas tree will go up this weekend, which will be nice. So we need to do a light toy de-clutter and a bit of a spring clean in the lounge.
Much love,
Emma
xx
It was very re-assuring to see I'm not actually the Chrismas Grinch and that many of us simple living folk have the similar feelings we are either working to overcome, or have had to overcome in the past.
A little fence and repair to this little garden again!! The cheeky dogs, this recycled fencing wire from the front ought to fix it....hopefully!
I'm sorry I didnt reply to them all. I have read them and re-read them and have been pondering many elements. They have been marinating in my mind but I saw them, and was very greatful for them.
So, where am I now?
Well firstly I should have clarified *we* dont have trouble with the gift giving to our children. We tend to go with "something to wear, something to read, something you want and something you need."
So the boys are getting from us:
Wear: PJ's
Read: (still deciding)
Want: childrens Opinel pocket knife, Henry I'm not quite decided upon, a marble run?
Need: Cotton Sleeping bags
Stockings will include marbels, chocolate, socks, jocks, and something special for each child - William will get a few polished stones for his collection, Henry a little owl finger puppet, Gus I havent decided yet. The PJ's and the books are usually in the stocking too.
Its the excess that comes in which we have no control that concerns me. But I do believe we have started a new tradition with one set of Grandparents happy about giving zoo passes! Woo hoo!
As far as Christmas day goes.....Well we have been having many discussions about this. Its not just up to me to say "no". We are a family and the decision of how we celebrate christmas must be a united one between Grant and I. We have however now decided that every couple of years we will have start to have Christmas at our own home. This is a huge change for us and one I am greatly relieved about. People are welcome to join us if they like, but we wont be doing all the travelling, and we will get to start new traditions with our children.
This year we are going to hold our own "Pre- Chistmas day" at home. Just our family. Buy beautiful seafood, light candles, go to church Sunday morning, maybe go to the beach, and give the boys a small hand made gift each, just to make it a little "magic" William needs a new libray bag and I have the material sitting there, Angus would love a Ninja outfit for his waldorf doll, and I will either applique a cat on a tee-shirt for Henry or make his Waldorf doll an Ninja outfit too. This special day will be a week or two before Christmas, nothing too fancy, But Im really looking forward to it. I feel more "at peace".
There is a Christmas pagent on this Friday in a town not far from us they will enjoy, and I think taking the time to simply "be" is perhaps going to be the most important thing. I tend to get tied up in the "do-ing" of everything around here that has to be done, that I forget to just "be" at the moment.
I listened to "Matilda" by Roahl Dahl today in full by audiable, I love a good kids book. and it got me thinking how little reading I have been doing latly. Gosh I miss it. It dawned on me I have not been caring for myself as well as usual. Which means I was going into the Christmas season with an emty tank, after a long hard year no wonder I was feeling tired and flat and dis-heartened.
One of our favorite things are Audible - audio books. The first month is free and awesome for road trips or quiet nights.
The Christmas tree will go up this weekend, which will be nice. So we need to do a light toy de-clutter and a bit of a spring clean in the lounge.
Much love,
Emma
xx
