Tips on How to Celebrate Christmas Away from Home

Christmas is the most awaited season in the Christian world because it is the birth of Jesus Christ. Cool air, smell of food, feasts, family celebrations are just some of the manifestations of Christmas. For me, this is the time for children and family to be together and have a joyful celebration of sharing, giving and loving.

Thankful to technology:

Without internet and webcam, it would be every difficult for me and expensive too to talk to my children. I miss my children so much but it will be eased after talking and seeing them in the screen (thanks to YM, webcam and phone settings). You see, this is very difficult when you have the longings and you can see them on the screen but you cant feel them. I came to accept the fact that this is very difficult, but I have to lived by it. I have choices in life, we never yet know if they are good or bad in the long run. We just hoped and work for it to the best of our knowledge and ability. I really thank Science and Bill Gates for making life easier for everybody.

Christmas with the children:

Christmas during my adult life is always celebrated with my children. There was never a moment when I wouldn’t take a leave for two weeks from work aside from the mandatory leave the office gave us so that we can be with our family during Christmas season. I will devote almost all of my time with my children, preparing for their Christmas parties, attending their Christmas programs and just running the house. It takes time because I have four children who are studying and each of them have Christmas parties and programs. Although they can be on their own, I am the one who is the sole responsible for them as I have the custody of all the four and their father has another family already.

Decorating the house:

We decorate the house together. It is a fond memory for me and my children. I like Christmas trees and the Belen “manger” where the Christ is born in a stable. I just buy lanterns from the store because it is cheaper to buy than to make it on your own. The mall is the favorite place for us during the season. I am anticipating expenditures so as early as June I already saved money for the holidays.

Fun and sharing:

Christmas would be very fun for me and my children because we go to the malls together, buy all the necessary costumes and the gifts for their exchange gifts and for everybody. Usually I will spend my time two days just to cover all the gifts for children and other children too. You see, it has been a tradition that I feed children the Sunday before Christmas day. It is a form of sharing what I have for the year. When I came here in the United States, I usually feed children in the neighborhood every Sunday. The place I am staying is surrounded by apartments with low to low-middle income class so there are many children just playing and roaming around the streets which came to know where I lived and they would visit once in a while there. I also miss my children, and I love children so I entertain them. There is always joy in making children happier.

Christmas cards and gifts:

I usually send Christmas cards and gifts as early as mid November because by December the post is going to be very busy already. I don’t want to pay extra cost for speed mails and I want card to have a letter on it. It takes me the whole day just to write personal notes to cards. It will cover all my friends, relatives and close family, my parents. And everybody is expecting gifts from me too. I just send money to my sister and a list of people to give gifts too and she will do it for me to save money posting them.

Going to church:

Now you ask me, how about going to church, to be honest I don’t go to church anymore not that there are fewer here in the US but that I don’t really believe anymore in going to a place to worship and pray. As I have always thought I celebrate Christmas because of children and I want them to be happy, that’s all.