Sunday, December 21, 2014

Christmas: Kids vs. Adults

1. When I was a kid, I spent hours building snow forts and having snowball fights with other kids in my neighborhood.

2. Now that I'm an adult, I spend hours standing in line and shopping for Christmas gifts, while steering clear of the other adults who are apparently willing to FIGHT TO THE DEATH for the newest electronic gadget or the last Elsa doll. Lest you think I'm exaggerating, I've seen many adults get into screaming matches or bare their teeth at each other, with wild looks in their eyes, as they race to get to the merchandise first. (I mean, really? Frozen was just a movie. I know it's easy for me to say since I don't have children and don't have to deal with them if I don't get them the presents that they want. I know that their kids might be disappointed if they don't get the Frozen toys they wanted, but maybe it's time that people should just "let it go." Sorry. I couldn't resist.)

3. When I was a kid, I sang along to the theme songs of TV movies like How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Frosty the Snowman.

4. Now that I'm an adult, I roll my eyes and change the channel when those same TV movies preempt the episode of CSI or Law and Order: SVU that I wanted to watch.

5. When I was a kid, we ate homemade Christmas cookies that other kids brought for the rest of the class to share.

6. Now that I'm an adult, I can't bake anything without burning it, so I buy Christmas cookies that vendors claim is just as good as homemade cookies in order to rationalize charging too much money for them.

7. When I was a kid, I hated the Christmas Day outfits that my mother made me wear, because they were usually uncomfortable, itchy, or clothes that she liked, not clothes that I liked.

8. Now that I'm an adult, I pay for and pick out my own Christmas Day outfits, which is why my mother will usually look at them and say, "Oh. Is that what you're wearing today?"

9. When I was a kid, I could hardly wait until Christmas morning, so that I could open my presents.

10. Now that I'm an adult, I can hardly wait until Christmas break is over, so that I can go back to work.

What about you? Was Christmas more fun for you when you were a kid, or is it more fun for you now that you're an adult?

8 comments:

  1. I think Christmas was more fun for me when I was a kid. I always watch "The Grinch" every Christmas and I feel more like the Grinch than Cindy Lou anymore. I love the song called "Where are you Christmas" because I feel like I've lost that magic somehow. I want to enjoy those things again, but I don't enjoy it as much. I think of Christmas as spending too much money and being forced to be with some relatives I don't like for an entire day with no escape. It's sad we lose it. Hope your Christmas wasn't too bad!

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    1. Hi Krista,
      I can definitely relate about spending time with certain relatives; if it were up to me, I'd spend Christmas on my own. I also agree about spending too much money during Christmas. I spoke to one friend who said that she didn't exchange gifts with her friends and relatives; she said it was less stressful that way. I wish I could do that too.
      I hope your Christmas went well! And thanks for visiting my blog!

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  2. this was very telling of how we age and it all means something else! dang you frozen! luckily none of my kids obsessed over the movie like others have. I have noticed that when Christmas comes I have a new stress. while as a kid it would be to know which gift I got off the list we would put on the fridge. as an adult, it's how much I can afford to get the kids this year. but in the end, as luck would have it, I'm able to get some pretty great stuff.

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    1. Hi Tammy,
      I actually never watched Frozen, though it is on my DVR. I keep putting it off so that I can watch Law and Order and CSI reruns instead.
      That's awesome that you were able to buy cool presents; I'm sure your kids appreciated it! You should buy a gift for yourself too. :)

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  3. I do enjoy Christmas still, just for different reasons. Now I enjoy the quiet on Christmas night when all the angst is gone and the Christmas tree is looking a little rattled from the day's events. I find peace more easily as an adult than I did a child.

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    1. Hi Emily,
      I was neurotic even when I was a child, so unfortunately "peaceful" is a word that's never been used to describe me or my life. :)

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  4. Christmas definitely seemed a lot more magical when I was a kid, for sure! All I really had to do was wake up and open presents! Now there's a lot more to do: fight for parking spots, stand in line, deal with unruly seasonal help. But it's nice to remember that I'm doing it for people I care about, and nice to be able to spend time with family and friends. So I guess it's not as magical, but still a great time of year :) Happy 2015!

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    1. Hi Julie,
      The only thing that makes standing in those long lines bearable is my cell phone, because at least then I have something to read. I always end up behind the difficult customers who yell at cashiers or who have really complicated purchases.
      And happy 2015 to you too!

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