Friday, November 21, 2008

Mulling It Over...

When I was in college I remember my friends and I discussing what our favorite childhood Christmas record was. Yes, I am old enough to have used records as a small child. It was that one album that meant Christmas was here the moment you heard it. For one friend it was Barbara Streisand, for another Jim Reeves...you get the picture. We had a bunch that we played at our house, but my favorite by far was the Carpenters Christmas Portrait. A friend of ours was techno savvy enough in the early 80's to finally record it onto a cassette tape for us and that's what we played for years and years and years until the CD revolution, at which point (after receiving my very own CD player for Christmas), I went right out and bought my own Carpenters CD, along with one for my mom.

I was thinking about this the other day. For years now we've had Christmas radio stations at our exposure. I remember as a kid the oldies station would play Christmas music all day only on Christmas and we were so excited about it every year. Something different, something fun. But now, we have stations playing Christmas music starting as soon as Halloween is over and straight through New Year's (and online all year long if you want it). Now for me, this is great because my minivan is on the old side and only has a radio and a broken casette player. So the radio being my only option, I thrive on those Christmas stations as I drive around town. Another thing those of us blessed with DirecTV have is XM radio stations through our TV. I never listen to these stations, except when Christmas comes around. It's so convenient to flip on the TV and turn it right to the Holly station for some old and new Christmas classics.

But the other day as I was driving around singing Christmas songs with Rory at the top of our lungs, I realized that so far, my kids don't have that one special album that will always mean the magic of Christmas. Part of this is because of the two things I just mentioned, but another reason is because I have been a Christmas CD freak since college and at this point probably have over 40 different CD's. So if I do take the time to pop in a CD (or bring up iTunes on my laptop) instead of the radio, I'm playing a variety of music all season long, rather than just those few special albums over and over.

Is there a solution? I'm determined to make December as magical for my kids as I remember it being for me. But I like ALL my music and I don't want to leave any out. Maybe I can play the same CD every year as we decorate the tree, or maybe I can play the Disney one during breakfast every morning as a happy Christmas start to the kids' day...I don't know...I'm still mulling. Suggestions are welcome. Just once again thinking out loud to anyone who wants to listen!

3 comments:

Jamie said...

Sounds like your Christmas selfishness isn't helping the kids Tara. I thought Christmas was about giving, caring, and sharing. If you aren't willing to sacrifice just send the kids to MN and I will listen to one CD with them from November 28 - December 25.

gretchen said...

First let me say I rolled my eyes at Jamie for you...
Second, it is TOTALLY possible!!! Jamie and I have always brought Christmas CD's with us on our way home from Thanksgiving and we always listen to Gene Autry first and then Stepehn Curtis Chapman...same when we decorate the tree. Some new favorites have made their way in ater in the rotation, like Sarah Mclauglin (LOVE HER) but my Christmas season will always start with Gene Autry telling me the Christmas Story and singing "Santa's coming in a Whirlybird" followed by Steven Curtis Chapman reminding me that "Christmas is all in the Heart".

Can't wait to see you!!!!

Tara said...

Thanks for the supportive eye roll, Gretchen, as it is so necessary with Jamie sometimes!