Sagerat Scribbles

• Nov. 28, 2006 - To Celebrate or Not Should Depend on You

Posted in Politically Incorrect

Christmas is a stressful time of year, especially for Christians who desire to make Christmas a true celebration in memory of Christ's birth. Trying to figure out how to do that can sometimes boggle the mind as much as just caving in to the commercialism. There is even commericalism in the Christian sector with special ornaments and decorations to substitute with.

I received an e-mail today asking me how to simplify Christmas when you have foster/adoptive children in your home who have memories of really big Christmases, santa and the whole works. How do you really bring Christ into this "holiday"?

I'll do my best to answer here, (she said I could) but I'd really appreciate it if you would offer your thoughts as well in the comments section.

Decoration is meant to create a certain ambiance. If you want Christmas to be a time of quiet reflection don't clutter your house with big red things, and sparkly trinkets.

What if the child has memories of an elaborate Christmas? If the child is/was in foster care think about what the rest of that life was like before and after Christmas. Many of their parents filled up under the tree in order to squelch their guilt. However they spent all they had to "give" their child something and afterward they don't have much to offer in food or shelter. Any Christmas would look big compared to that. All that largesse doesn't make a family. My fondest memories of Christmas are about family.

Whatever you do, don't do it because you feel like you have to! Don't allow commercial peer pressure to win over your better judgement. Even Christians running around announcing what they have done during the holiday season and "challenging" you to do the same (from the pulpit no less) is a form of peer pressure. Christ didn't challenge anyone, he simply said, "Come, follow me."

Above all think about what Christmas is to you. Celebrate it that way. While your children may be confused to a sudden change, it is better than being confused by a wishy washy parent. Foster children are already well aquainted with parents like that. Stand up for what you believe in. Your children will respect you for it.

• Nov. 28, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by bearsmom

Great advice.

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• Nov. 29, 2006 - Hi Tia!

Posted by deedeeuk

I don't know if this will help and you have probably heard this before! We had to find a way to explain about Santa to our boys. We tell them that he isn't real, but they are surrounded by Santa at this time of year.Even our church's toddler group has Santa come to the Christmas party to give the gifts to the kids. So we told them that it was just people dressing up for fun, like a clown. At a child's birthday party a clown might come and do some fun stuff but the clown is not the focus of the day or the party - the birthday person is!! Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus birth, our Savior. We have started having a small Birthday cake for Jesus on the day to remind us of that fact. Santa is only something to add to the fun - and shouldn't become more important than Jesus' Birthday which is the important thing. I hope that might help someone explain the difference in their home to a child who is used to a Santa filled Christmas!!

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The politically incorrect ramblings of a sage rat den mother. As well as thoughts on adoption, special needs children, and My Lord and Savior.

About the turtle: Tia Turtle is a character in a new book by Gena Suarez, "And Then Mama Said...It Takes Time to Learn to Read." Kevin Collier is the illustrator and he made me my special avatar, because yes, Tia Turtle is named after Me! (Okay, so I'm bragging. Leave me a correctional comment in love.)