“It’s true. We have cancelled Christmas in our house this year.”
Let me explain. We have not stopped decorating, celebrating the birth of Jesus, or any of our other heartwarming traditions. But we have cancelled presents, Santa, and stockings. My three sons’ letters to Santa this year will ask Santa to find someone who needs their presents more.
My husband, John, and I feel like we are fighting an uphill battle with our kids when it comes to entitlement. They expect so much even when their behaviour is disrespectful. We gave them good warning: they needed to change their behaviour or there would be consequences. We patiently worked with them for several months and guess what, very little changed.
One day, after a particularly bad display of entitlement, John said, “We should just cancel Christmas.” And so, we did.
We will be taking the money we would have spent on presents and put it toward service projects and gifts for others. We are trying to teach them the pleasure of giving rather than continuing to feed their childhood desire for more.
The few presents they get from grandparents and other family members will be more cherished. Christmas morning won’t be less special without Santa. Instead we can enjoy our Cinnamon rolls, play games as a family, and truly appreciate the few presents they do get.
Santa may write them letters saying how proud of them he is, and perhaps put a few pieces of hard candy and an orange in their stockings.
