Nipped in to a diy store the other week, on the outskirts of a large town (almost a city).
In amongst the trees as I came off the motorway, were a few old battered tents, the two person type they leave behind at summer festivals.
People are actually living in the damp, sodden, grassy tree area, at the side of a motorway!
It’s Christmas Eve today, what type of Christmas will these poor souls have?
Not much of one I’d bet!
Meanwhile, here it is a different story.
Two sprogs that can’t be arsed getting out of their pits until after dinner time.
One doesn’t listen at all and the other one can’t be bothered to.
While Mum’s up early, plenty of excitement, busy cleaning as if she’s about to give birth (many soon to be mothers, start “home making” just before they are ready to drop) the shopping is all in for the week, all the meat is bought (butchers), the fruit and veg stacked and stored (green grocers) and the pressies are bought and sent off to the big man.
The home decorated, lights up, tree up, advent calendars almost done, snacks/nibbles prepped, etc.
All at great time and expense.
The two sprog’s interest in everything that’s been done and the whole occasion, is akin to having to visit the dentist.
They’ve shown very little enthusiasm, very little energy and very little appreciation of what’s been done on their’s and the family’s behalf.
Now I could understand full well, if they grew up with one or both parents not giving a shit.
If their presents were dependent on a competition with the bottom of a parent’s glass in the local boozer, or perhaps they spent years watching the festivities of one of their absent parents on social media, enjoying the season to be jolly with a new family, in a new home.
But no, both parents have made a big deal of the festive season every year, going to great lengths to give them Christmas’ that they can be excited about, look forward to with a smile and create memories that will last for their lifetime.
So when they go missing for two days and don’t even bother to let them know they are just wanting time or space, while parents are worrying about them, or deliberately laze around in bed until well after dinnertime, not being remotely arsed to get out of their pit, then finally get up and spend their entire day (what’s left of it) on their mobile phone, I find it a bit of an insult.
In the not too distant future, we’ll be gone.
All the prep-work, the expense, the time, the effort, the shopping, etc. will be theirs to give.
I hope their offspring and partners don’t have to tolerate the same lack of enthusiasm and efforts.
Now compare their Christmas time, to those that I mentioned at the start, who have the rustle of a battered old tent blowing in the wind, next to a motorway, to look forward to for their Christmas.
Yet if someone stopped by those tents, with a camping stove/gas/old pan with some food to cook, I bet they’d be over the moon!
Appreciate what you have.
Merry Christmas.