My kids are teaching me

[cynatnite]

I know I should be thankful for what we have. We managed to keep a roof over our head and food on the table. We have our health. Those things are more important above all, but I still find it hard.

This holiday season has been a depressing one. Finances hit us harder this year than ever before. We scraped and borrowed just to keep a roof over our head, utilities turned on and food on the table.

For the first time since I can remember there are no presents for anyone here. We can't buy for our kids and knowing this I couldn't bear to put up the tree. I borrowed five dollars to get a toy for our little boy.

In a week or so we'll have the rest of the bills caught up and in another month we won't be living stretched so thin. That is a relief, but just getting through the next 24 hours will be harder than hell.

Our kids are very understanding and don't seem to mind. In fact, they're handling this situation much better than I am. They're going on about their business as usual, looking forward to Christmas dinner tomorrow and acting as if they would any other day.

They do wish their dad was home. He's out on the road working through the holidays and they'll be thrilled to talk to him tomorrow. They've shown me so much over the last day or so that much of the deep depression has lifted. There are still moments, but one look at my kids really makes it that much easier.

I'm thankful to have such terrific kids. :)

Happy Holidays, DU!

[NMDemDist2]

1. many of us had Christmas' like that as kids

speaking for myself, I was more worried about my Mom being upset then not having any presents

how about your write them IOUs for when you are caught up and stick them in their stockings?

They need you happy and loving more than they need presents and they know that even better than you do.

Love them, hug them and tell them they are the greatest!

they understand and just want you to be happy

and so do I


:grouphug: for you and the kids

[Skittles]

3. yes and we survived

and it made us compassionate :)

[NMDemDist2]

4. Merry Christmas Skittles!

:hi:

[Skittles]

5. back at ya my sweet!

:hi:

[Bluestar]

6. What a great reply, my friend!

And a merry, merry Christmas to you and yours!

Love and light,
Bluestar

[NMDemDist2]

25. and to you Star! Merry Christmas! n/t

[cynatnite]

7. That's so wonderful

Thank you so much for your words of wisdom! I can't tell you how much better that makes me feel!

:hug:

[NMDemDist2]

26. cynatnite

Merry Christmas, and I bet those kids will be thrilled to see the tree, even with just cookies as gifts

hope your Hubby gets home safe and FAST


:hug:

[Infinite Hope]

2. God Bless. n/t

[Lars39]

8. I totally understand, cynatnite.

Our christmases have been practically non-existent the past few years.
Board games, some cookies, popcorn and a few good movies...with all snuggled together can make better memories than a flurry of gift wrapping being undone. Your kids are learning to value people over things, and that's a *very* good thing to learn. :hug:

[cynatnite]

18. My kids are one in a million...

Little boy hates seeing anyone upset and likes to comfort them. My teenage daughter organized a food drive at her high school when Katrina hit and she volunteers at a nursing home. She's going there late this afternoon to help out with a dinner.

BTW, tree is up and goodies are made.

Thanks so much!

[JI7]

9. when is your husband coming back ?

[cynatnite]

10. It'll probably be about a week when he gets home...

He's due in L.A. on Tuesday and will get a load straight back here.

[JI7]

11. in Los ANgeles ?

do you know where in LA and what time ? would he have any free time ?

[cynatnite]

13. I don't know what kind of free time he'll have...

He delivers at 4am. He won't know until about 8am how soon he'll have a load out. He's not one to sit still long and will be urging them to get him out pretty quick.

[renate]

12. your appreciation for their ability to cope with this is a beautiful gift--

--a gift that truly will last a lifetime. Your praise for their goodness and understanding will make them feel extra wonderful about themselves long after tomorrow. You can't put a price tag on that.

:hug: for you and :hug: for your sweet kids.

[cynatnite]

14. I'm in the process of putting up our tree...

after all the great words of encouragement and support from everyone here at DU I decided to make the most of this holiday as best I can. We'll make this a special day come hell or high water. LOL

Thank You and Thanks to everyone at DU!

[cornermouse]

15. The Christmas that I remember the most and

value the most in hindsight was the year that my grandparents apparently didn't have any extra money for gifts for us.

The gifts were homemade probably vintage depression era or in the case of the wagon, possibly earlier than that. They gave my brother a painted wooden box with wheels attached. In front was a couple of corn cobs (horses) attached with "reins" to the wagon. I got a corduroy footstool made of those large juice cans which had been wired together and topped with a little padding.

At the time, I can remember being a little disappointed because it wasn't a doll or game, but as I got older I realized that the reason that I remember that Christmas is because Grandpa and Grandma gave us a little of their own past. And now that I'm older, that's the Christmas I remember and cherish the most.

[cynatnite]

16. I was thinking about a Christmas several years ago...

It was the first one hubby and I spent together. We drove to Oklahoma to be with my mom and stepdad so there wasn't much in the way of money for gifts. Next thing we knew everyone came. My grandparents, my uncle and aunt, their kids and other family members. I saw old friends from school, too. Many of these people I hadn't seen in a long time because of being in the Army and away from home so much. That Christmas was great and continues to be one of my favorite holiday memories.

Christmas tree is up and decorated and the goodies I made are finished. Kids will be up in a few hours :) They'll be so shocked because they won't expect all this. LOL

[cornermouse]

20. Merry Christmas.

:)

[TheMadMonk]

17. Anyone who has a copy of "On the Banks of Plum Creek"

by Laura Ingals Wilder. (One of the "Little House on the Prarie" books.)

I think that's the one.

Would do well to remind themselves of what really makes a wonderful Christmas.

A pink sugar pig, and a houseful of love and friendship.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Yes - the story where they get candy

and one little doll is one of my favorites.

[TheMadMonk]

21. Was that when Laura got Susan?

A corncob wrapped in a hankie, who was better loved than any china faced doll in the world. I couldn't remember, so I left her out.

Though I do regularly raise the contrast between Susan and Nellie's "China faced doll", and Laura's love and Nellie's indifference, when on the subject of materialism in general.


In our own family. Last year it was the $1 crocodile and this year the 50c "Nemo" toy mobile phone (both last minute stocking stuffers, picked up at yard sales to round out the numbers) that stole the show.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Yes I think n/t

[sendero]

23. It must be hard..

... but then knowing you did something right, raising kids who know what is important and what isn't, is a wonderful accomplishment in itself.

I'm hoping things get better for you in the coming year, better for all of us.

[gollygee]

24. I had a year like that when I was a kid

my parents were on strike not long before Christmas one year and it took us a while to get things back together. We each had one very small present. But I remember that Christmas just as fondly as the rest.

:hug:

Merry Christmas!