Simply Christmas: Five Ways to Make Peace with Presents

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.
And expensive.
And complicated.
And busy.

And, for me, as the CEO of a large tribe with an even larger extended tribe scattered across a 1,000 mile radius, it’s the planning of a Yuletide invasion of decor and gifts and travel and food that requires a military-esque strategy and conquering mindset in order to not be overwhelmed by marauding hordes of hungry and treasure-seeking nine-year-olds.

I’m a recovering Christmaholic. You may be familiar with my symptoms. Christmas-themed decor everywhere. Buying just one more gift. Which means buying yet another gift to even out the gift count. Followed by buying just one more gift to then make sure each kid has the same number of boxes. Christmas decor attached to the 15 passenger van. Christmas socks. Christmas sweaters for the dogs. Our 13 foot Christmas tree. Insane amounts of every Christmas-kind of event to attend, direct, perform in.

The ravages of my Christmaholism are manyfold. Fatigue. Stress. Generalized let-down that I actually live in a locale that will most likely never ever ever ever have a white Christmas. Frantic baking. Overachieving Christmas card sending.

But it’s time.
Time to render a Noel Declaration of Independence.
Time to just calm down.
Time to simplify.
Time of celebrate simply Christmas.

The gift-giving piece is a big part of the peace-thief at this time of year. Determining, purchasing wrapping gifts for eight kids, spouse, siblings, their kids, moms, grandmother, neighbors and close friends and then, of course, Secret Santa kind of stuff, is one of the most demanding chores of the season.

Yeah, I said it.
Chores.

So in the spirit of calming my Christmas self down, I submit the following gift category template which might just help you with your Christmas crazy as well.

1. Tradition

Each year, I purchase a Christmas ornament for each of the kids and for Michael that has to do with something significant in each of their lives over the previous year. For example, the year Madison was living in Paris, I found a beautiful glass ornament of the Eiffel Tower. Michael’s first year to compete at Toastmasters International, I bought a microphone ornament. I mark the name of the recipient and the year on each of the ornaments and on Christmas Eve, we open those ornaments, place them on the tree, and reminisce about the events of the year. Nine gifts, but one general category that serves as yearbook, heirloom, and decor.

Bam.

2. True Generosity

There are so many great organizations out there that provide all kinds of ways to be generous with others in the world around us. My personal favorite is Compassion International and the children our family sponsors. Rather than one more gaming component or online service, what about a gift that gives all year long to someone across the globe? And it’s a gift that also gives to your family, by reminding all of us to be intentional in the care and provision for others.

3. Treasure

After hauling in a bunch of gifts through the years that were only going to be played with for approximately 14 minutes, it finally dawned on me that I’d rather give a treasure than temporary. We’ve got some great antique shops in our city, and I began making a little trip to those spots to see if I could find gifts with history and story instead of plastic and fad. Once year I found an amazing antique stereoscope viewer for one of the kids. Another year, it was a set of antique minibooks of Shakespeare that were collectibles at the beginning of the 20th century. These kinds of items have been so treasured by my gift recipients and are things they care for and keep long after the garland has been packed into the attic.

4. Time

The greatest gift I can give my people is time. I know, I know, very Hallmark card, but still. My kids crave more than ever a few nights throughout the holiday season where we sit down, cuddle up, binge on popcorn and watch our favorite Christmas movies whilst basked in the gaudy glow of the Christmas tree. No gift bags required, no hunting down the Scotch tape. Just time, wrapped in a slower pace and all the best that speaks home.

5. Tally

Choose the number of gifts you’re going to give. Now, drop that number by a bit. And then do it again. Reduce.

You can do it.

And then stick to the tally you commit to. Your budget will be healthier, your schedule more balanced, your closets better spaced. Yes, delight in offering up surprises and joy and that longed-for item your kid’s been dreaming of. But know when to call enough enough.

Chief among hypocrites am I when it comes to the Simply Christmas message. But I’ve got a fresh run at it this year. And so do you.

Now let’s go forth and Noel.