Finding the Spirit of Christmas: Peace and Goodwill

It’s been nine days and I’m already feeling the pain. I refer not to the blog-a-day thing, though I have to say that is challenging. At the moment, juggling the Pocket Dictator, Wonder Hound and kamikaze Dimpled One usually means that I spend all day thinking about posting and most of the evening (after clearing away the daily detritus of primary coloured plastic, half-eaten pretzels and unidentifiable objects smooshed into the carpet then cooking and eating supper and maybe even watching The News) staying up far too late in order to successfully post. No, the pain I meant was the general stress that increases as the December days tick on by. The snow last week, though it only rendered me housebound for 24 hours, has really thrown my preparation plans. In fact whilst I sat at the hairdressers today, I worked myself into a gibbering wreck as I listed all the things that still needed doing. It came as a massive shock, given  that I announced smugly to the postman only this morning (and he did ask) that I had bought all my Christmas presents before the beginning of December.

Then I read Vegemitevix’s beautifully written post on The Lucky Child. I took a deep breath, and a valium, and reminded myself, as I do at this point every year, that Christmas is not about how many mince pies you make, or whether you remember to send a card to that couple you met on holiday two years ago. It’s about Peace and Goodwill and being Thankful for what you’ve got.

I was very aware of the sentiments in Vegemite’s post when the Pocket Dictator was born. I felt nothing but gratitude at the arrival of our longed-for child and felt a need to somehow do something to honour the fact that we had our precious baby after so long, and that we were lucky enough to not have to worry about what we were going to feed her, how we were going to clothe her, whether she would stay alive long enough to see adulthood. So I contacted World Vision and sponsored a child so that a little girl who lives in Ethiopia might have a better future. I get regular updates on her progress and, now that The Girls are bigger, teach them about her and about people who are less fortunate than we are. We send her birthday and Christmas cards, pictures and letters. It’s a regular reminder of all that I have to be thankful for.

I also arrange letters from Santa via the NSPCC. For a donation, they personalise a letter to anyone from Santa. You could send them to your children, Godchildren, parents, dinnerladies. You can also specify that it’s your baby’s first Christmas and receive an extra-special letter, a wonderful keepsake for your little angel. The letters are beautifully illustrated in gentle colours, and an easy way to give money to a charity that really makes a difference to the lives of children who aren’t as lucky as mine.

The Girls are growing so quickly at the moment that it’s hard to keep up and I’ve been sorting through all our toys and clothes and bits and pieces to make way for the inevitable Christmas influx of new toys and clothes and bits and pieces. As I have the youngest baby amongst my group of friends I wasn’t able to find someone to pass all these things onto. A throw away comment helped me come across a local woman’s refuge, who were incredibly grateful for all the things I gave them. The pushchair that didn’t sell on ebay was perfect for a woman who had given birth the week before. She’d left her home with nothing but the clothes she was wearing apparently. The formula, the toys were ideal for someone with a baby and toddler. The lovely lady who helped me unload my car had story after story of women who, with their children, had walked away from all that they had so that they could give their children, themselves, a better life. They were so very grateful for all that I gave them that I was quite embarrassed that it wasn’t more. I had a peculiar feeling as I left: such a peculiar feeling that I’ve been back three times since. It’s such an easy thing for me to do: box up a few things that no longer fit, baby food that we no longer need, add a few other bits ‘just because’ and drop it off. Because I am fortunate enough to have a wonderful husband who works very hard to give us the life we have. I am fortunate enough to have two beautiful, healthy, intelligent girls who will be encouraged to read and learn and explore and travel and grab every opportunity.

I think I’ve found my Christmas Spirit.

This has been a (depressing) post for Cafebebe’s Christmas Challenge.