The meaning of Christmas

          How do you define the meaning of Christmas? What is the importance of this season in your life and that of your family? Who do you spend your time with on Christmas time? At times, when you are obssessed with new things such as clothes and gadgets, what you look forward as a younger boy or girl at this season is the luxurious gift that you will receive from others.

          These are but just some of the questions that come to your mind when you think about Christmas. You may think perhaps of the times when you were still young and the idea then of Christmas was mainly focused on the following:

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a. receiving gifts and giveaways from loved ones especially from parents;

b. playing time with friends 

c. opportunity to go around and mill with friends to make carolling to various houses and even to strangers thus allowing the spirit of Christmas to be shared with everyone

          On the other hand, when you grow up and become more exposed to the world, your understanding and perception of what Christmas is changed as well. Driven by your interactions with others, you begin to learn Christmas on a much deeper level. Nowadays, as this world is challenged by both natural and man made calamities, as your day to day living is colored by both of your positive and negative experiences, you then realize that Christmas is sweeter and more meaningful when it is shared with others most notably with your loved ones  and with those people who are deprived of the resources to enjoy the season.

          In your life, you have so much to share and be grateful for everything that you have cherished for this year. Yes it is true that there is joy brought along by those big and small gifts that you give and receive during this season however, the most significant among these expressions is the sharing of genuine love for everyone. Learn to love and be loved genuinely.

                                           
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Is It Ideal For a Family If Both Parents Are Working?

          Previously, it was typical for any family that a father goes to work and provides the needs of the family. On the other hand, the mother stays at home to take charge of the children. Nowadays, it is but prevalent that both parents prefer to work so as to provide the financial benefits of the children. These two contrasting realities both have their positive and negative effects.

          You may perhaps think that children with both working parents naturally receive the material benefits. As such, the parents can afford to buy anything luxurious like toys, modern gadgets, and can even send the children to exclusive schools. Moreover, proponents of this view argues that due to the family's extra wealth, it will enable them to go overseas for a holiday.

          On the other hand, one of the possible negative results when both parents are working is the deprivation of guidance and moral support to the growing children. On certain situations like fulfilling school assignments, extra curricular activities and exams, the children direly need the after school support of the parents. Consequently, the children would not excellently perform at school and what is worst is when they get involve with friends of bad influence. This type of friends endow no good result except trouble especially when they get involved with drugs, excessive drinking and the like.

                                      
                              © Photographer Jinyoung Lee | Agency: Dreamstime.com

          I remember one friend of mine in high school whose parents were working. It was true that they indeed provided her needs. She grew up in such a situation that she badly missed her parents' support on times of assignment making, accomplishing school projects and many more. Being on this reality, she felt envious with her classmates who rather performed well in class more than her due to their parents' help. Apparently most of them emerged as top of the class while she wasn't. Consequently, she lost her self confidence, became inferior in the class and aimless in life.

          Thus, if this day's trend that both parents are active in their careers continue to persist, one thing that should be given importance as well as never be disregarded is their major role and responsibility towards the process of growth of their children. The parents' positive role modeling plays a significant part in the children's life. 

Guest blogger: Myra Flor Jugan