Fans of Interracial Romance discussion

Maybe it is because I do not live close to my immediate family and I am only three years out from being separated, but... I am tired of the holiday grind. Tired of the what you gonna cook what you gonna buy. It all seems so commercial and unnecessarily stressful. I just want to hang out with my family for goodness sake. I want so badly to say bump the presents and let's take a cruise or go down to the islands. I am born again and I celebrate the life and death of Jesus everyday and I share that with my kids so they know what Christmas is really about. This whole Holiday thing is starting to feel a little too contrived, if that is the word I am looking for.
I don't want to be the Grinch and I understand the importance of the tradition and the value it has in so many homes and hearts, but I am starting to feel like a square peg in a round hole.

Jenn wrote: "Maybe it is because I do not live close to my immediate family and I am only three years out from being separated, but... I am tired of the holiday grind. Tired of the what you gonna cook what you ..."


I do not know the last day I gave a gift..I buy clothing for some children but they usually get that in January lol

When I was growing up in Barbados, we went to church, came home and had a wonderful lunch, then sometimes went around to other family and friends to eat more lol
It was a time of excitement as well because family would be coming in from the US, Canada, England etc

I do not remember gifts but we always got something new to wear to church.

My husband said it was all about the gifts for him growing up.

We do not do anything major at Christmas,we stay home or go up to see his family(my family is in Barbados)or go to some Barbadian friends of ours.

Don't feel odd, I do not understand how buying gifts aka putting yourself in debt, has any meaning.

I don't blame you for feeling that way, but I'm a Holiday freak. This is my favorite time of year. Christmas is my favorite holiday and Thanksgiving is my second (tie with Easter). This Thanksgiving won't be with family, but I'm trying to have a good attitude about that. Not that I am judging anyone else, but I try not to let the ugly aspects of the holiday get me down, and find my personal meaning in it. I think you just need to pursue what is of value to you and focus on that. I love the ceremonial and traditional aspects of the holiday, so I make a big deal out of it. We really deck the halls in my house and even decorate our yard (a very important thing to us with it being our first house). We kind of follow the Clark Griswold school of holiday decoration. I like buying presents for my family, but I agree that it's important to give to those who are in need and remember that not everyone has plenty. I like to watch the Christmas shows, listen to Christmas music, and watch my favorite movies like It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol (Alistair Sim version), and Little Women (June Allyson/Elizabeth Taylor version). I guess I don't follow the simplicity route of celebration, but I enjoy making a big deal out of the holidays. But different strokes for different folks.

Oops, I forgot Christmas Vacation. :)

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Oops, I forgot Christmas Vacation. :)"

I love some Christmas music and hymns

Me too. I prefer the older hyms and traditional Christmas songs to the modern ones.

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I don't blame you for feeling that way, but I'm a Holiday freak. This is my favorite time of year. Christmas is my favorite holiday and Thanksgiving is my second (tie with Easter). This Thanksgiv..."

Don't get me wrong I love Christmas. I love to decorate wall to wall and really go all out. I could listen to Christmas music all year (I can now listen all year on itunes radio stations). I am just starting to get a little less traditional about the things I grew up with. Last year I bought a pink Christmas tree. My daughter and I loved it.
I love that people in general take time to do for others around this time. You hear more stories about giving and volunteering. There is a lot of good that comes out of the holidays. I just feel like I am changing. After moving, I do not want to be tied to stuff, I want more memories of what we did because memories of what you got seem so fleeting.
Also not to offend anyone but it drives me crazy to hear what parents do to get the hottest toy of the season a toy that will be broken in the closet by February. Maybe that is part of the fun for them I guess. And this Black Friday madness is down right scary to me.
I still would decorate for the month of December but, I would love to be with my family on a cruise somewhere. That way we could just hang while someone else is cooking and cleaning.

I stay far away from stores on Black Friday. It is very scary, especially hearing about that poor man that got trampled last year. Is it really worth all that?

I think the holidays are about spending time with loved ones and remembering the true spirit and reason for the reason. People do lose track of that with the commercialism of it. It's unfortunate that the end of the year is so busy, so stressful, that it takes away from the simple joys and pleasures of the season. I hope to be able to slow down and enjoy it to the fullest potential this year.

Jenn wrote: "Maybe it is because I do not live close to my immediate family and I am only three years out from being separated, but... I am tired of the holiday grind. Tired of the what you gonna cook what you ..."

I am with you here. I think part of the problem is that you don't get to anticipate the season. You used to be able to feel a little bit giddy when just right around Thanksgiving or just after you start seeing the decorations go up around town. But now, I go into a mall or even just the grocery store in October and see Christmas decor up. No other holiday gets such a prolonged lead-up. It is wearying.

Christmas in modernity has always been a balance between the spirituality of the season and the commerce of it. But lately it seems that we've tipped firmly over the line into the commerce of it. How many stories have we read over the past 10 years of towns not being able to have a nativity up? Or memos going around offices telling staff that they need to refer to this time as 'Holiday' instead of 'Christmas.'

I know individually many people maintain the spirit and celebration part of the season. I try to do this but I get really dispirited with the constant bombardment of the commerce part of it. Especially when it all begins a good two months before the holiday begins.

I agree it's hard to keep the Christmas Spirit nowadays. I work at it, and part of it comes naturally. I'm still at ten year old when it comes to Christmas.

Did you guys ever go carolling? I love it :)

I've never gone caroling. It sounds fun, though.

I don't celebrate Christmas.

I didn't realize that, Arch. Do you mind if I ask what denomination you are?

Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I didn't realize that, Arch. Do you mind if I ask what denomination you are?"

Non denomination.

Same here I don't celebrate holidays either. I do collect the in season candy though. :-)

Rae wrote: "Same here I don't celebrate holidays either. I do collect the in season candy though. :-) "

I like to buy the candies the day after the holidays, because it be on sale. I'm doing good with my healthy eating, but a little piece of chocolate can't hurt. Not even a chocolate candy bar once a month.

I love all the holiday monotony. The summer is so boring.

I agree that summer is pretty tedious. The holidays are not nearly as fun. And since I live in Texas, I spend the whole time melting! I love the late Fall and Winter. My favorite time of year, for numerous reasons.

Christy wrote: "I love all the holiday monotony. The summer is so boring."

I live for the summer. The hotter the better. More water less clothes is my motto. Be it the pool the beach a cruise a resort I am so there. I live in a great walking community and when it warms up, everything is outside.

I'm glad someone likes hot weather (a lot of someones), because I can't stand it. My family calls me a polar bear. I think I am. I prefer being cold over hot any day.

I'd love to live where we get a good winter. Unfortunately I'd be going on my own, if I did. Maybe one day I'll be a snow bunny again.