A Christmas Jeer

Granted we are going through tough economical times, and really that does sound like the prerequisite phrase of the year, but I certainly think now, more than any other time is prime territory to stress the humanist elements of this time of year. I've heard too many stories on the news this week, and especially will now that Black Friday is over about how this month long home stretch to the holiday season is a microcosm for the recession we have embarked upon. What a perfect time to teach children a bit of humility, and the true meaning of the holidays. Now it certainly might be easy for me to say, for I am in that strange period of my life where I am old enough not to be devastated by a thin Christmas Tree present pile but yet too young to have a family of my own. I am 22 and I can certainly say I've had my share of plunderous as well as slightly disappointing Christmases, such as the year my big ticket request was the Daytona 500 Speedway race set. The commercials ran on television constantly during my cartoons, it was one of those race sets that had the supercharger, and the cars would come tearing out onto the track, I asked for it and asked for it, and put it on my lists to santa and to mom. One day during the holidays my mom came home with a box from layaway somewhere, and brought the items into her room, and then put the empty box back onto the big freezer box we had. It was an unremarkable brown box but for the simple printed words "Daytona 500 Speedway". So of course there could be no other explanation, on Christmas morning I'd have supercharged race cars flying off the track, hitting me in the knuckles, making me cry and never once considering putting the toy away. Well December 25th rolled around and there would be no Daytona 500 Speedway, like I had said, it was just a box they put her items in. I cant remember whether I made a big deal out of it, and I can't imagine i really did, though I've never let her live it down. My mother raised me to be a very appreciative son, I suppose I had my moments but for the most part I understood what was within my mothers limits and not to make her feel bad if she couldn't afford something for me, because now I now know how much she stretches her money. I am glad I was able to stay humble, I lived in a very affluent community, and I suppose at times felt a little jealous that my schoolmates got so much during the holidays, but my mother made Christmas equally as much about love, as material, and I believe that it is that spirit that's been lost. Everyone is worried about what's going to happen with consumer spending this month, whether the retail stores will put up even close to the same sorts of numbers as they'd hope, or even put up last year, parents are worried they cant afford certain big ticket items on their families list, as if they have some sort of material obligation to uphold. Sure, commend the marketing departments of all these retail giants for years for the two pronged obligation and 'child's wildest dreams come true' norm for holiday shopping, and pitting neighbors and peers against one another to make higher profits, but it certainly takes away from children's socio-economic awareness and sense of obligation to community and love for family. It's a perfect opportunity to teach them a bit about family budgeting and humility. I think families around the country talk about how this is a time of giving, yet really only refer to the gifts they are purchasing for friends and family, the retail stores want to make them feel like real altruists for doing that, that the smiles of their children are the only ones that matter, where in reality there are a large number of people who cant even provide for themselves during the holidays. It's time for parents to stop getting teary eyed watching stories about philanthropist terminally ill children and start actually making a difference, and breeding a culture of multifaceted holiday spirit in their own households. I think one problem people have is that they see these vast examples of philanthropy and feel as if the small things that they could contribute aren't good enough, yet another example of 'how to be' keeping people from stepping up. Yet when in reality spending a Saturday with their kids wrapping presents for underprivileged children and making cards and crafts like my mother and I did every year is an example of something small that can be done. I think it's time for parents to teach their children that every gift, every comfort, every skill, every passion and opportunity comes with responsibilities to somehow share that with someone. I have always felt that if one has a wealth of knowledge and a passion for something, than its their responsibility to breed that in someone else, thats why I coach soccer; the sport did so much for me that I felt so compelled to be a positive influence in a child's life so they too could get a large amount out of it. The same is true for holiday spirit. Instead of raising children that feel the only holiday obligations are for their parents to spoil them, raise children gracious of their gifts, appreciative of their friends and family, who strive to make a positive impact on those who might not be so lucky. Maybe then the struggling economy might not be the big story, rather the booming economy of good deeds.