Gifts

What is it about the Holidays? It is a glitter colored doom for so many. It creates such anxiety with in people. When my 15 year old comes up to me and says ” I wish we weren’t poor” I look at him and laugh. ” Dreaming of sugar plum fairies are you?” Not hardly, and if he was dreaming of bikini clad babes, Mom would not be the first soul he would be extolling to. He is wishing for ‘things’. His list of wants is as long as most kids I would imagine, but he also is aware that I don’t have the funding for all that. We are not poor, my son doesn’t know poor. I try very hard to make sure he doesn’t get to close to that place. He has never gone to bed hungry, he may go to bed with a belly full of red beans and rice, but he is not hungry. He has also seen me dash to the bank to get 20$ I don’t have for some one who is trying to make their rent. His birthday is Sunday, and although I desperately need a gram scale if I am going to be able to mix glazes for this possible contract, he will get a birthday gift and my damn scale will wait a while. It is how it is.

I have many friends out there in the world, blessed am I. Most of them struggle just like I do. They hold onto one end while they try to keep the other from slipping through their fingers. Some have kids, some don’t, but they all try their damnedest to make the holidays the best. It’s what we do when we love. I have one friend who called tonight whose Husband just got laid off, and she is feeling guilty because there will be very few gifts under the tree. Guilt, anxiety, stress… they can eat a soul alive. I could list a few more souls I know who have fallen on hard times right now, it always seems to be the season, but we all know someone. We all could be that someone.

When the weight of the season starts pressing down on me I pull out my copy of Pearl S. Bucks ” Christmas Day in the Morning.” It is the best thing to put a smile on my face, and make my load seem lighter.

Now FYI, I do not “practice” any of the religions of Abraham. ( I am however firm in my convictions that there is a GOD) I do however share the traditions and the season of peace and good will with my kids. We do Winter Solstice where we go out and place food for the animals and keep a candle lit to make the longest night, brighter. We celebrate Chanukah and Christmas with explanations of there origin and intent. Trust me, all the kids want is the loot. ( LOL)  (Momma wants them to find their path to God.)

The hardest part in the last few years has been how hard the holidays are on others. Over the years my kids have become used to just a few ‘things’ for the holidays. They have more fun making cookies and watching me get tangled in holiday lights and try not to fall off the ladder. I have given gifts to friends, but I see the shame???Guilt?? in their eyes that they feel it must be reciprocated, and even though I have gone to great lengths to explain that isn’t what I want or intend, I can not change how they feel. So I have excepted their needs and have bowed to their wishes, no more gifts. Part of me should be relieved, it is less of a financial burden, but damn it it’s fun to give gifts! Hell in my house it’s fun to MAKE gifts! It’s something my kids get a kick out of! (I know Harley understands me here! Ms. Red Velvet)

So here is the deal. On Monday, December 10th I am going to post a photo of 5 things I have hand made.( Some with the help of my kids) Anyone who would like them, be it for themselves or to give away, ( I’m just having fun here!) needs only to email me at 11sorrow@gmail.com, tell me which item you would like. I will then put your name in a bowl , one bowl for each item. You have until 12:00 noon on Thursday the 13th to let me know . I will have the kids draw names on the Thursday December 13th at 5 pm EST. I will then notify you and have you send me your address and it will be on it’s way to you!

Here’s the catch, because there is always one. You have to pay this forward. What this means is, I strongly believe in Karma. When someone does something good for you, you need to do something good for someone else. I don’t care what you do, walk a little old lady across the street, volunteer at your kids school, donate to charity, whatever. As long as you give, you have fulfilled Karma.

This is a very fun idea for me and mine to really get into the season of giving. We are all looking forward to sharing our creativity and play with the world. I thank you, in advance, for helping teach my kids about love, about the global community and what the season of peace is all about.

Namaste