"Tis The Season
Posted: Thursday, December 03, 2009
by Maria Macfarlane
mom-e-news
Let the celebration begin! The earnest Thanksgiving Holiday is over. Now the colorful Christmas Season is upon us and the change of gears is a welcome respite at the end of a long year. It is a time for joyous diversions.... to be festive, to socialize and to partake in some well-deserved merrymaking. But it's not only about parties and decorations, is it? Although we are commemorating an occasion rich in tradition, ritual and pageantry, our focus also encompasses a general sense of goodwill and appreciation for loved ones.
A more conservative connotation of the word, "celebrate," means to display or make known / to rejoice through ceremony or respect. If we take a moment to strategically inject some sincere sentiment into the holiday proceedings, we might be able to actually infuse some much needed balance. The presentation of gifts can be framed within the context of showing our children how much we appreciate their good deeds and accomplishments. It's a natural fit. We can sing their praises and engage in positive reinforcement. We let them know that we value the effort they have made throughout the year...and the giving of gifts is a part of that acknowledgement.
The Holiday Season is the perfect platform for parents to recognize their children's virtues. "Santa knows if you've been naughty or nice" but we, as parents, would also like to say to our kids, "thank you for all the good that you have done this year." We can psychologically, emotionally and tangibly reward them for their efforts. The Holiday Season is a safe, convenient opportunity to reach out, put aside our differences and openly tell our children how important they are in our lives. What an amazing time of year! Beyond the religious /cultural reference points, we extol the love of family, demonstrate our gratitude for what we have and possess a profound wish to extend happiness to others.
So in the frenzy that surrounds us right now, let's try to remember that we are not only observing a holiday, but we are recognizing all that is good in our lives. Our celebration can take many forms and our children are at the epicentre of all the excitement. The pleasure comes from enjoying the fun "with" them... we delight in the spirit of a celebration that is geared specifically "for" them ... and the magic of the season emanates "from" them.
My sincerest wish for all of you is that this holiday season will bring you a sense of fulfillment that will enlighten and inspire you now and throughout the entire year.
Happy Holidays
Maria Macfarlane is a mother of two and publishes the mom-e-news Newsletter, providing insight and information for the proactive mom. To subscribe to the newsletter or for more articles, please visit http://www.mom-e-news.com or send an email to info@mom-e-news.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Christmas is a time to be merry and sociable, and stick our heads out of hibernation for a look around. Thanks Maria!
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