Do you feel the "Christ" is out of Christmas?

How blessed you are! I always enjoyed Christmas even when I was single and alone because of its meaning but my children brought extra joy to the holiday. I started a tradition of baking a birthday cake on the 24th. The boys would help me decorate it and on Christmas we would sing happy birthday. Maybe you'd like to do that with your daughter. It keeps the true meaning alive.

@ dragon54u - that's a great idea of making a birthday cake for Christ!! I may just have to do that - I love baking @ charblaize - I too am the same, I'd love to give my daughter more but I'm not rich plus I want her to grow up the same as your son knowing that christmas isn't just about the gifts

It is a joy watching my son when he was younger opening gifts and more enthused about the ribbons, bows, and gift wrap than what was inside :) I enjoy doing whatever I can find around the holiday for/with my son, going to see Santa, the local Y's christmas party, breakfast with Santa, the christmas parades, just whatever we can do I will try and do it and most if not all are free. I don't remember doing as many things but just seeing Santa when I was younger. I also know that during this time I will go and get our pictures done: the family portrait!! I don't get many throughout the year with both of us, so this is my gift to myself :)) Yes, it more commericalized and I really feel for the one's who can't afford to make me memorable to their children, for I am one but I don't want my son to think it is for "everything" he wants and try to teach that he cannot get everything he wants and about others who may not even have a christmas. Then tell him the true meaning isn't about the giftss but about Christ himself.

Yes, or even putting X instead of Christ-mas. I really enjoyed Christmas when I was younger, being more involved with family, the "traditional" meal and saying prayer. Now, I have gotten older, its losing its meaning to me, families aren't together as much as they used to be, people worried about what kind of gift they are getting, how much it costs, and everyone being picky on what kind of stuffing they like!! I know from my family its getting more of a headache than believing and remembering who the holiday, celebration is for---Jesus Christ.

So, far in my community we can still put out Nativity scenes and such but I am waiting for them to do something about it. It is ridiculous how far people will go for a little plague on a building that has been there ever since it was built!! If they don't like it, don't look it but don't take the rights and values of others away....Yes, I also do not like to write X- I used to for awhile, then I got to thinking how that took him away from the meaning and will write it out now. That is really neat what you done for the birthday. That seems really neat and I may just do that also. It would be really neat if your boys kept with the tradition with their own children. Thanks for the good insight and hope more people will remember what the season, holiday, celebration is all about.

I understand why you won't celebrate Jesus's birth. I still think with the children, my son don't get what he wants, I set limits and try to tell him about the value of money. Though he is only 6, it is hard for him to understand but I still try to enstil the meaning of money and monetary items. Maybe one day it will soak in!! crossing fingers. Anyway, he still wants and wants and wants and don't understand the true meaning of the holiday. I talk to him about it, the church meetings on the special day and the navity scenes, churches, ornaments, etc.. I would like him to understand what its about than to "want" toys and gifts.