"Tis the season

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2007
"Tis the season
4
Sun, 11-23-2003 - 11:30am
unfortunately...for depression and abuse.

I just wanted to bring up the topic. I know that most people on this board deal with depression on a daily basis, however during the holidays, depression enters almost everyone's homes and lives.

The holiday season is when the abuse shelters fill up and overflow. Crime rate increases. Family arguments are on the rise, etc. etc. resulting in child abuse, and sometimes worse. Income and outgo are not even close to balancing and then we are all crowded together trying to get that one gift that will make someone happy, only to see that for the following year....they never even wore, played or used it after all we went through. To top it all off....we have to go to family gatherings and pretend we are all "Merry" and happy. HO, HO.

I did not write this to depress anyone, though it is good to realize that your reactions to an abnormal condition....Holiday's....is normal. I did write to make a few suggestions and see if anyone would like to add to them:

1. There is a board on ivillage that stresses simplifying your life. You might want to give it a visit.

2. I asked my husband the other day..."How many years have we been married?" He replied, "How many do you think?" I said "12 years"....."Yes"..."So that means then, for 12 years I have been responsible for all of the Christmas gifts to family, etc"...he says, "Yes, I guess you have". I said...."Humm, I think it's your turn. You are in charge of them this year".....He said "OK....gift certificates for everyone". So, I would like to suggest...."let's us ladies, start thinking like men....keep it simple".

3. Here is a story that was recently sent to me by e-mail:

Who started Christmas?



This morning I heard a story on the radio of a woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable. And after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids. She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don't forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card. Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot." From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't worry we already crucified him." For the rest of the trip down, the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. Don't forget this year to keep the One who started this whole Christmas thing in your every thought, deed, purchase, and word. If we all did it, just think of how different this whole world would be.

Blessings to all of us.


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Sun, 11-23-2003 - 5:09pm

thank you for posting this.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sun, 11-23-2003 - 6:22pm

THAT was a wonderful post!


Thank you!

*hugs

*hugs             

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sun, 11-23-2003 - 6:38pm

So true, so true...a lot of people forget the entire reason we celebrate.

    CL for The

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2007
Mon, 11-24-2003 - 5:24pm
Some excellent ideas. My son and daughter in law live in Canada, so each occasion, I end up sending money instead of a gift. The last time I bought a gift to send, the postage cost more than the gift, so I took back the gift, rounded off the cost and sent the money instead....which is great with the conversion...they get more in Canada on the US dollar. Turned out they were saving up for something...just like you mentioned.

Last year (when I was buying the gifts...ho, ho), I concentrated on a theme. Everyone got hats!! My mother was going through chemotherapy, and her hair was getting a little thin and she had been looking at wigs, hats, scarves, etc. I thought...what an excellent idea for a gift...something unusual...in fact, good idea for everyone. So I went to a trendy little store, picked out some quaint little hats, that I just loved....but gave them away as gifts anyway. My father of course got his favorite football team hat. Well, a year has passed, Mom is doing fine and her hair is growing back beautifully, and the only person I have seen wear their hat is my dad....LOL. Oh, that is so tough when you buy things you would love to keep for yourself, but you do the right thing and give them as intended, and then no one wears them!! Geez...so as I mentioned in the original post, I am saving myself the grief....and passing the torch to a new buyer....DH !!! LOL