by Crystal Barry

Created on: December 14, 2008

The true meaning of Christmas has been lost over many years of a materialistic America trying to give to their children possessions that would out rank what the next child has. In a way I think that the current state of the American economy will eventually provide a great benefit to our way of living. Christmas is not about giving the best or the most presents, it not about the decorations, food, or holiday parties. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ. It's funny because I am willing to bet that most children do not even know why we have a Christmas holiday or where or why Christmas was originated. I myself am not above the "materialistic America" because up until this recession I was exactly the same way. Christmas in my house (now that I look back) was ridiculous. There would be presents everywhere and no corner of the house was undecorated. My children would at minimum have ten presents a piece under the tree. I think the least amount I myself had spent on a Christmas was just over a thousand dollars. Now I REGRET every Christmas where I went crazy on buying gifts like this.

With the current economic state there is no way that we are able to buy anything for Christmas. Just before thanksgiving my husband had a heart attack and has been out of work. With me having the only income and our family consisting of four children we are lucky that we still have a place to live. So I sat my kids down and explained to them that there would be no presents, no big holiday feast, and the decorations will be left at a minimum. The reaction I got was uncanny. They were mad, crying, and just could not understand why. This I fear is my fault for always giving them the best that I could. I always wanted them to have the things that I never got as a child and in turn I have created ungrateful, uncaring little monsters who feel that they deserve the best. I think that most parents in this century feel the same way therefore children of the 21st century do not have the strong work ethics, values and morals that we grew up with as children because they are used to having everything handed to them.
So this holiday we are still going to do a gift exchange but the gift that every gives has to be something that is homemade. There will be no money spent on any gifts this year. Then we are going to learn what Christmas truly is and that it is not about what material items they can squeeze out of their parents this year. I think that this will teach my children to appreciate what they do have and the only gift worth cherishing is the gift of their family. They could have very easily lost their father this year to his heart attack and they were more concerned with why they would not be getting any gift for Christmas. This tells me that a drastic change has to be made with their values and morals.
On Christmas Eve we will be exchanging our homemade gifts and on Christmas morning instead of rushing around to make this huge holiday feast for the family, I will take my four children and we are going to volunteer at a homeless shelter and serve holiday dinner to those who actually have nothing. Maybe they will value the life they have instead of taking it for granted. These homeless people could very well be any one of us with the recession that we are in.

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