I really was never a "Christmas person," or at least, I really didn't cling to the magic of it until I had a child of my own. My son is only 2 years old, but he really seems to get the whole concept of holidays this year.
Unfortunately, he's finally getting it during 2020, the craziest, crappiest, and weirdest year yet where this Christmas is sure to be unlike any other. My toddler has been home with my husband and I since the pandemic led to shutdowns in March, and frankly, we're in need of little Christmas joy … and I'd wager anyone else who celebrates is in need of it, too.
Even a Grinch like me, one who swore she'd never spoil her kid rotten at an age where he can't even really remember it, feels a deep desire to "overperform" this year.
After almost a whole year of staying away from all the things we love to do as a family (for the most part), I feel so guilty and really want to give my kid a day of just pure, unadulterated joy. It's something I think a lot of families are feeling this year.
When the day arrives, and you come to find you were able to pull it off with a Christmas tree stacked with gifts, I'm begging you: Please don't brag about it.
You know what I'm talking about. Those seemingly innocuous photos on Facebook of a trimmed tree surrounded by perfectly wrapped gifts and a caption "So. Spoiled." The ones where people flex the amount they spent, their cozy homes and decorations all in one photo. This year, it might be more than some of your Facebook friends can bear to see.
I know what you're thinking: "Haven't I earned the right to celebrate *something*?"
And honestly, yes, of course you have. And by all means, please buy whatever number of gifts you can afford, stuff yourself to the brim with cookies and hot cocoa, and snuggle those babies close by the fire. Just this year, in a year where so many have lost so much, maybe hold back from calling out your abundance on Facebook in a way that's less about your gratitude and more about how much you have.
While after a straight up terrible year, we have every right to cling to whatever joy we have, we also need to take care of our neighbors.
Instead of thinking, "Well if they don't like it, they don't have to look," consider that this year social media might be the only place people can connect with someone this year.
Keep in mind, I'm not saying scrub your feed of all holiday cheer. I'm just saying that the posts where it feels a little more "look at me" need to be back burnered this year.
Perhaps instead of those pictures, try and offer to help pad someone else's tree with a few extra gifts.
Or offer to keep someone company via Facetime. However you decide to share your holiday joy, just make sure people who've lost everything, from jobs to loved ones, know they aren't failures for not ending the year with a bang. Right now, we're not all thriving, and that's totally OK. The best thing is we can make spaces (even the internet) ones that feel more supportive than braggadocious.
Be grateful and humble, because if 2020 taught us anything, it's that the tables can turn at any point, and for those who've lost a lot this year, we hope that means better days are coming for you.
