Holiday Stress

From late October to the middle of February, people often complain about the stress of the holidays. As a child I thought, "Poppycock!" (I've been watching some British television lately) "These times are about food and joy and no school and family and staying up late! What could be stressful about that?"
Now that I am a full fledged adult with taxes, a child and my very own credit score I see things a little differently. I can understand the stress of less than ideal family situations, tight budgets, holiday decorating, traveling, cooking, cleaning, overeating and trying to make everything a good memory. Now, I don't have to deal with a lot of this since we go to other people's houses for the big holidays.
However, there is one thing that stresses me out this time of year. Gift giving.
There are so many complications in this process. First of all, who do you give gifts to? We're supposed to give gifts to the people we love. But then there is the awkward situation where someone gives you a gift and you hadn't planned on giving them one at all. Even if you give cheap $1 gifts to all your good friends and neighbors, that gets really expensive really fast.
Okay, so you definitely give gifts to your family. But what?!?!?!?!?!? I am a frequent reader of Miss Manners' column. She just advises that you give a thoughtful gift. Sounds great in theory. But what in the world do I give to my mother??? She has a lot of things. I don't want to just give her a relatively cheap trinket (which is all I can really afford) that will be of no use or real thrill.
Those of you who are more sentimental are thinking, "Well, Kelsey, just write nice notes of appreciation and love. Those are worth most of all!" And you are absolutely right. There are few better gifts than love. However, I can't do this every year for Mother's Day, Father's Day, all birthdays and Christmas because I am just not creative and thoughtful enough to think of different reasons why I love people year after year! All those letters will start looking strangely similar. Not to mention I am looking pretty cheap.
I really do love to give gifts. That is probably why I stress about it too much. I wish I could give either really extravagant gifts or extraordinarily thoughtful gifts every time, but I just can't. Alas, this year no one will be writing down Christmas stories to be passed down about the gifts we have planned this year. But I guess if every year were extraordinary, they wouldn't be extraordinary.
So now, I'll just have to focus on the real meaning of Christmas.



Note to the relatives who will be receiving gifts from me this year:
Don't worry. I'll be fine. I don't need ideas or consolation. If all goes as planned you will be receiving gifts of average thought and cost. Also, I've resolved to let this stress go.