The first thing you should do is to mentally throw out all your late 20th century Christmas ideas. Who says you have to have a tree? Who says it has to be in the house? The children have to get and expect to have hundreds of dollars worth of presents under that tree on Christmas morning-- who says? I may sound like a frugal old humbug, but hear me out.
You will certainly have those traditions that you do want to keep, and by all means do. They are part of the reason for the nostalgic feelings we get when we pass them on to our own children. But there are a few, you must admit, things we do--- that have become burdens at the very least. And the reason we keep doing them despite how miserable it makes us in the end? Traditions. Someone's traditions; but why do they have to be ours? Make your own family traditions, keeping those you love and that work well for your family, and adding in some new ones-- All in the spirit of a joyful holiday that Christmas is supposed to be.
Here are just a few suggestions as to what you could include as a new tradition in your family. But as far as to what traditions you should leave out--- I leave that up to you. I can say this much; If it makes you feel burdened, exhausted, angry, embarrassed, jealous, or depressed-- there's a good chance your missing out on the true holiday of Christmas Peace and Joy.
* If you have a large extended family, draw names and do a gift exchange-- rather than going in debt to buy something for grandma, aunt, uncle, niece, cousins etc.
* Is there something you are especially good at and/or that people often admire? Use that to your advantage at Christmas time. Bake your father a homemade apple pie, sew the new baby a keepsake blanket, design up some really crazy neon splash designs on a pair of white sneakers for your eight year old niece-- you get the picture.
* Can't afford to buy a nice Christmas tree? Decorate the one in your yard! I would however make sure Santa delivered his goodies in the house still.
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