I'd say I agree with the latter of the comments, I think it IS what you make of it. I hate the malls just about any time of year, why is December any different other than volume? I have two girls, 12 and 6. They are the reason I do what I do around this time of year. Commercialized? You bet. Still important in playing a role towards a healthy childhood? I believe so. Now don't get me wrong, getting the newest, hottest, coolest most expensive thing every year is not what I am talking about. Last year was a small Christmas for my kids. The economy was still pretty flat, so they got some small things and some clothes.
This year, well......lets just say that the metals industry has recovered pretty well from a 3 year recession.
This year my girls are each getting brand new dirt bikes. A CRF70 and a CRF50. Overboard, hell yes. Will it end up in the bottom of the toybox in 6 months? No way. Does it allow us to go play as a family? You betcha!!!!!
To top this off, we made a large donation of money and toys to a local orphanage for those that don't have what others take for granted, and the kid's toybox has been gutted (I make them do this) and the excess taken to Goodwill and Salvation Army drop locations.
What I would also like to say is this:
For everyone here and around the world, make the holiday season what you would like it to be. Say hi to people, stop cutting off others on the freeway (I witnessed 2 knobs trying to kill each other at 70mph the other day), give something rather than expect or take. Last year Christmas eve day I got a call from friends that went for a ride through Palomar that one of the people riding lowsided. I scooped up my kids and spent the next 6 or 7 hours driving to them, picking up the bike and rider and delivering them to their home. My kids didn't have the greatest of times doing this, but they understood that someone else needed the time more than we did.
Pay it forward. The life you save someday may be your own.
With that said, Happy Holidays to everyone!!!!