I still can’t believe that I actually bought a tree this year. We’ve always had one at my mom’s house growing up, but since Kwasi and I have lived together (8 years now), we have never had a tree. I still think Christmas is very commercialized. But there’s something about a child’s face lightening up at the sight of Christmas lights that influenced me to jump on the Decorating Bandwagon.
We went to Target today to buy an artificial tree, but like other late-comers, pickings were slim. So we went with a real tree from the farmer’s market. Miraculously, they had stands, too! Kwabena was so not interested in actually picking out the tree he wanted; he was more interested in running up and down the length of the aisle, running his hand over the branches at full-speed. SIGH……That’s my active toddler.
We decided on one ($59 later, including the stand), loaded it in the trunk, and I carried it upstairs. It’s funny how a “little” tree in a lot suddenly appears larger when cornered by 2 walls in your living room. What I thought would be “just a little tree” is now a 4 and 1/2″ foot perfect tree.
The smell of the pine on my hands after carrying it upstairs was magnificent! Honestly, I’ve never had scent like that on my hands, and it smelled so good. Made me thankful we got a real tree instead of an artificial one (ask me in a few days when my floor is littered with prickly pine needles….).
While Kwabena was napping I easily set up the tree. I thought he would be more interested and excited in decorating the tree once he awoke, but apparently Cars, the movie, was a bit more entertaining. I handed him an ornament, and he cried, “I can’t!” Later, I did get him to hang a single ornament. LOL. But even then, he wasn’t that interested. After all the whining he did when I had told him earlier today that we might have to get a little (table top) tree: “No! I don’t want a little tree. I want a BIG tree!”
Anyhow, we’re all decorated now: beautiful tree, lights and trim lining the fireplace, and our originally hung lights flimsily in the kitchen (the tape is NOT sticking…). Surprisingly, I like our decorations. It feels a bit more homey (and a bit more crowded in our small condo).
I told Kwasi today about the tree (he’s in Ghana until the 28th). He half-jokingly advised to be sure that the tree is gone before he gets home. LOL. Yeah, he definitely doesn’t celebrate Christmas! Bah-humbug…
As for Christmas presents, this is something else that I said I would never do with my child when I have one. Well, last year I bought Kwabena a couple small things (one of which was a truck that he still pushes around the house; even this morning he did!). Last year he didn’t understand the concept of pulling off paper to reveal a surprise underneath. This year I believe he will. And that will be the fun for me–to buy him a couple small things that I know he will like. But the way some parents go “all out” with tons of crap lining the entire living room floor–sorry–not in this household!
In fact, I think too many American kids get tons of stuff that they don’t need! They’ve got rooms full of toys that they don’t play with, only to have layers of more consumerism piled on top of the stuff gathering dust in their rooms. I don’t want Kwabena to be one of those kids. Today, in fact, we cleaned out his toy box, packing away the things he no longer shows interest in (packing it away to save for a hopeful baby #2, or to eventually send to kids in Ghana). I will buy him 2 or 3 new things, and that’s it, because I know he will appreciate it more.
As for my family, I won’t be buying them presents at all. I am trying to think of some creative ways to offer my time to them–to do things for them, and with them, that will be more meaningful than anything I could spend money on.
Anyhow, Happy Holidays to all, and please…….lay off the credit cards this season. If you can’t afford to pay cash for it, it means you can’t afford it, and the person to whom you give the gift will forget about it long before you have finished paying it off.
🙂
Leave a Reply