I know it's early, but I need to have a conversation about Christmas.

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I know it's early, but I need to have a conversation about Christmas.

(5 posts)

Itchy-Scratchy

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Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 470

Posted 1 year ago
Thu Nov 20 2008 9:50:54
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My apologies, especially to my American friends who have not yet even celebrated Thanksgiving. But my daughter and I have spent weeks trying to figure this out, and I could really use some ideas.

I need to talk about Christmas. I love Christmas. We usually celebrate in a big way, with lots of decorations and a party and funny little gifts. But thanks to BBs, this year will have to be different. I am not going to bring our decorations out of "safe" storage and expose them the BBs. And we can't hold our annual Christmas party. And I don't know yet about attending other parties (it's always so risky to visit someone else's house). Even a big turkey dinner will be challenging because we still don't have our diningroom (it's filled with bags). Obviously we can't wrap up gifts and leave them lying around either.

What I need to do is figure out how to celebrate Christmas will be this year. So far, here's some of the ideas we've come up with :

1) We're going to sit in a coffee house this weekend and write Christmas cards to all our friends.
2) We have volunteered to wrap gifts at the mall for CNIB (Cdn. Institute of the Blind). We figure it can raise money for the blind and it wil put us in the Christmas spirit.
3) Christmas movie night. We are going to couch potatoe for hours and watch sappy Christmas movies which involve miracles and angels. Oh, how I love those Christmas movies!
4) On Christmas day, we are volunteering at a local homeless shelter. We have actually done this a couple of times in the past. It leaves us with a good feeling at the end of the day, and somehow seems very appropriate for Christmas.

And that's all I've got. I haven't even figured out a gift for my daughter yet, because anything we buy will just be another item to bag. *sigh* I was thinking about starting an RRSP (tax-deductable retirement fund) for her and it could be a new tradition that I contribute to the fund each year. A very practical gift, but not very fun.

Ideally I would love to just go away on a holiday, but alas ... most of my savings have been eaten up by laundry/Ziploc/caulk/DE purchases over the last 5 months.

Does anybody have any thoughts on how they are going to celebrate the holidays?
Adele

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Joined: May '08
Posts: 634

Posted 1 year ago
Thu Nov 20 2008 10:10:09
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Kate - you know what? I just figured that with all the horror going on in the economy (yes all over the world now) I will just be grateful that I am alive and well and in good health. That sounds like a good list but don't be sad - you're alive and well also and you have your daughter

I was thinking how it's absolutely amazing how having bedbugs has changed my life. I spent my life collecting antique and other kinds of fur coats and they became horribly infested and had to go to the fur cleaners. I am losing my job at the end of December and I can't afford to take them out of the cleaners now. but you know what? I don't miss them in fact I am so used to living a spartan life that it would seem wierd to have them back . I will eventually get them out but not this year

I decided instead of going to my usual parties that I will pray - also something I've not done in decades - and I will spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with my father in his nursing home. I will be grateful for my health and thankful that I've beaten back bedbugs but was left nearly broke from it - and will rebuild my life from here

Kate- you'll be ok
lynnee82

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Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 66

Posted 1 year ago
Fri Nov 21 2008 15:27:00
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Thanks for this post. We are also not getting our Christmas items out. I may give gift certificates to our children and ask my son to buy gifts for us for the grandchildren. I am starting a page on my computer of benefits from this bb plague. One, my house is decluttered from years of junk. Yeah! Two, My husband and I now sleep in a double bed instead of our discarded king size. Such closeness after 26 years! Third, next summer, we plan to move. We did not want to sell the home we raised the children in, but now that it no longer feels like home, we just want out! I am optimistically assuming the bb's will be dead by June. If they are not, I probably will be! Fourth, I have been praying like never before! God is helping me with peace through this plague. I have been in such despair for a month that I have to find something good out of this! Thanks to all who post here. It helps knowing I am not alone!
I_Miss_Sleep

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Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 6

Posted 1 year ago
Fri Nov 21 2008 15:39:36
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We're visiting my family in the US this year for Christmas. I am absolutely terrified of bringing these little nightmares with me.

So I guess we'll have to buy presents when we get there (shopping on December 23, oh joy!) and my twin nephews will have to wait a bit longer for auntie-crocheted blankets like their big brother has. I hate it, but that's the only thing I can think of to do about it, since I don't think gift cards bought in one country would transfer well to another.
Itchy-Scratchy

senior member
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 470

Posted 1 year ago
Fri Nov 21 2008 16:13:22
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Lynee and Adele, you are right ... the BBs could be a blessing in disguise. My daughter and I have talked for years about finding a better way to celebrate the holidays. So here's our opporunity. This year, maybe we can create a simplier, more meaningful way to celebrate Christmas.

I_Miss_Sleep, I think your ideas are good. I know it sounds hectic to shop on December 23rd, so I would suggest you embrace the frenzy! My daughter and I actually go shopping for a few items every December 24th because we love seeing all the panicked shoppers. We call it "kamikaze Christmas shopping". Sounds weird, I know, but it's almost like being in the eye of a storm. Once done our shopping, we'd stop for a coffee and just watch all the activity. We make a point of peeking into the jewellery store, where we always see some husband trying to find that last-minute gift.

Another added bonus is that many stores will put items on clearance on the 24th, instead of waiting for Boxing Day. So you may be able to get some deals!

To be honest, I feel especially bad for the parents on the board who are struggling to make a special Christmas because they have small kids. My daughter and I are not going to cry if we miss a Christmas or have one bad year (especially since we've had so many fabulous Christmases). So there isn't as much pressure on me. But the people on the forum with small kids ... well, they have my sympathy.