The busiest travel day of the year has been said to be the day before Thanksgiving. And, after last week's travelling escapades I now understand why. A trip that normally takes two and a half to three hours was prolonged by two hours of bumper to bumper traffic and one hour of stand still traffic. That's right, a three hour trip became six hours. Add a toddler with a thorough dislike for long car trips and an infant needing to nurse every three hours, and put them along with all of our luggage in a Mini Cooper and you begin to get a taste for what is now my family's most disliked travel day of the year. I may have come to this conclusion sooner had I been more prone in the past to travel the day before Thanksgiving, but alas I charted new territory this year.
From now on I believe I will try extra hard to have my family leave the WEEKEND before Thanksgiving. A guarantee to run into as little traffic as possible.
And now, with Thanksgiving behind us, the blow up yard Santa across the street from our neighborhood (along with the Christmas lights and wreaths that we're already beginning to make their debuts) doesn't look so out of place. Carols are ushering in this season on almost every radio station, and with this I am beginning to come to the realization of just how costly the "giving" season really is. To fill stockings, buy gifts, put up a tree, and string lights - not to mention getting Christmas pictures taken and sending out cards to loved ones - I honestly don't know how people do it year after year... I guess the philosophy of storing up presents throughout the year, like a squirrel with acorns, is the easiest on the checkbook... Think I will implement that next year. And, if anyone has any ideas on hit stocking stuffers for toddlers and infants (and husbands) that won't break the bank so to speak I am all ears! Because is it natural for the stocking stuffers to cost more than their actual gift?
Luckily Tucker is still easily entertained- the kid is happy with acorns and chalk, and trips to the park- the problem is me. I see cute things I know he would go crazy about and before I know it I am having to restrain myself from using all of our Christmas budget (ok it hasn't gotten THAT bad, but close). Don't worry, I emptied the shopping card and reminded myself of my son's easily contented personality. Does giving to kids an excessive amount more than they truly need eventually teach them to not be content with a little? Does it make them greedy? Am I greedy on my children's behalf? Ouch. I guess before this holiday season gets under full swing I need to take a step back myself and try to determine the line between a thoughtful gift, and greedy gifting- something I didn't know existed until now :)
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