First off, let me say that we are not very religious. Okay, we are not religious at all. Christmas always has been, and continues to be mainly about getting and receiving gifts in my family. It is a time to tell your loved ones how important they are and to try to make them happy by picking out the perfect gift. I know that this post is all about the commercialism of Christmas, and not about the true meaning of Christmas at all. You don't have to tell me - I KNOW.
My mother loves buying stuff for Christmas. She always has. When I was a kid, we didn't have much money, but we always had a great Christmas. ALWAYS. You might not have gotten exactly what you wanted, but you got lots and lots of stuff. And on years when my mother couldn't afford much, she would enter our family in one of those programs where a local business would "adopt" our family and buy us gifts. We always had an amazing Christmas.
As an adult, I still love Christmas. Except now I love buying gifts for my own babies, instead of receiving them. The problem stems from the fact that I am having a hard time reining myself in. I want to buy my kids lots of stuff - just like my mother used to when I was growing up. Every time I go to the store, I see something that Porgie would love for Christmas, so I purchase it. But then I don't want Porgie to have more than Izzy, so I go back and buy Izzy something. Rinse and repeat.
My kids already have enough toys for Christmas, and I know that my family will be sending then even more stuff, yet I am constantly wanting to buy just one more thing. I guess I just want them to have a magical Christmas - the Christmas that I remember from my childhood. Yet at the same time, I don't want to break the bank buying gifts. I mean, let's be realistic - they won't even remember this Christmas when they grow up. But this is the first year when both kids will be old enough to enjoy Christmas. I am eagerly anticipating the giggles and squeals of joy on Christmas morning.
6 comments:
This is funny, because normally I feel like that, but this year I am hoping no one gets much for my little girl. Because of the move. But still, I am hoping to go very small for Christmas. :)
Have fun!
Understood.
Personally I am more religious and try to make it as much about that as possible (was easier before I got married ironically lol). I wasn't raised that way though... Neither side of my family is religious at all either (why I understand where your coming from here). Christmas for them is just about getting together, eating, gifts & fighting lol. I learned early on how to juggle the two "styles" of Christmas.. My husbands family is more like me and combines it well - minus fighting which is wonderful lol.
That being said...I get pulled into the gifts too. Its hard not to... and buying/giving them is my favourite part. I am really excited about Kalila's this year because she's starting to get the gift concept if nothing else yet. We're setting a budget for gifts though to stick too... Will prob shop around to do as best we can with it. I also have the issue of as much as I'm looking forward to giving her things, I don't want to do to her what my mom did to me... She spent way more than she could and always bought me a ton of gifts and for a long time I expected that and was disappointed if there wasn't "enough". Not good...
i totally understand where you are coming from. we had so many gifts last year that bradley didn't really want to open any more. he wanted to play with the gifts he already opened. that is why we did the really big thomas gift set, and then we got a few board games and stuff. it is so hard to have self control, especially when they can finally enjoy christmas!!
I love the holidays too. I think you need to do what is right for you and it sounds like you are..
I always had great Christmases growing up too! I am so the opposite with buying for Cole though... We are really NOT religious and I can't ever think of anything to get him! I try to avoid buying a bunch of useless plastic crap, and that does not leave very much else to buy for him it seems like!
Help! What do you get a 2 year old boy that is not crap? I need ideas!
i get it. i only have one. but i get it. which is why i am trying to stay out of the stores for the next few weeks....
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