A Few Thoughts As You Go Shopping!

Hope your weekend's off to a good start. Today's post will just be a short one - a few thoughts on the season and enjoying our families through it all.

We're here in our winter wonderland called Miami, Florida. It dipped into the 50s last night. Bbbrrr!! I'm originally from Jamaica so I'm not too used to cold weather like this. Although I grew up in Texas - from age 12 through my mid 20s - I never liked winter weather. To each his own, right?

Anyway, what do you do for family fun this time of year? I take it many of you are crowding the malls and swiping credit cards like no other time this year. Others of you - like my good friends in Texas - go deer hunting. Here in Florida, fishing is pretty good this time of year too!

This is such a beautiful time of the year. My best childhood memories mostly seem to have something to do with this season. First of all, my birthday is December 22. So I'd go the entire year and not get any presents. Then I'd get birthday presents and again 3 days later on Christmas Day!

Family bonding during this season is special. I remember growing up with our family buying a Christmas tree together, then putting it up and decorating it. My parents, my siblings and I often went caroling and sometimes we went driving through ours and neighboring communities to look at Christmas lights. Then came Christmas Day - presents and lots of food! We always went to 6 AM church service to get the day started. Then after all this fun, a week later we'd welcome in a new year and make resolutions - that we'd generally break within a few weeks :-)

This season creates so many lasting memories! I know many of you are of other faiths and may not celebrate like I do. But I think we all agree that this time of the year is like no other. The shopping, the fun, the laughter all make it "the most wonderful time of the year!."

During the season, let's really embrace the privilege we have to share it with our kids. It's something that years from now they will recall with fond memories. And I'm sure if we make the right impression, when they start their own families, they'll want to do the same.

I should also say that as much as we shower our kids with the things they wish for, let's not think one season of gift-giving can replace all the other things we should be doing with them. I know parents who don't really pay much attention to their kids throughout the year and think opening their wallets can make up for the essential quality time that their children need. So let's get them gifts but let's shower them with love and affection 12 months a year.

Ok. In the words of Porky Pig, "that's all folks!" Here's to a wonderful weekend for you and yours!

The Upbeat Dad
















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