I say I am going to do it every year. My husband prods repeatedly "Let's just have a simple Christmas this year." Then what happens is that I start preparing early, forget the things I have purchased and squirreled away. Then on the night before Christmas I see all the stuff and get that sinking embarrassed feeling in the pit of my stomach. I glance nervously at my spouse and seek his approval with questions like "It isn't that much is it?" But I already know the answer. It's always too much. And when I look around the house and the crap we have sitting here piling up dust it's enough to make me nauseous. I think about the kids in the world who are happy on so much less. I think about Mary and Laura Ingels playing with an inflated pig bladder having the time of their lives. And I don't think my kids are the blessed ones. They are perhaps at a disadvantage having been given too much... So this year I am determined-things will be simple. Braces on two kids and expensive violin lessons have stretched our budget and I'm certain that this is a good thing.
We have been verbally warning the kids that this year will be 'practical.' No flashy things that will only be played with for a week. We are getting things that we need. We are making things instead of buying. Now if I only could buy some time in a bottle for the quilts I have in mind for the girls and the photo albums I plan to put together for the boys. I know... when you were a 13 year old boy you really craved a photo album catching up on the past 3 years didn't you? Not to worry- there will be legos. But no fancy race-tracks that break too soon, no telescopes or ipods.
When I asked Big Boy last night what he desired most for Christmas his response was "I can tell you what I don't want this year... my very own nativity. That totally sucked as a gift last year..." He just won't let that go. Which is even more reason I am determined. The spoilage needs to end. Just like T's family used to say when he was a boy. "We're going to have a lot of love this year for Christmas." I must admit the cockles of my heart really warmed towards Little Boy when I asked him the same question I asked of his brother and he said "How about a new mattress for my bed" Now that really shows those practical wheels have been turning. Something he needs and will put to good use every dang night! His Christmas wish just might come true. If he's really really good.
6 comments:
i love that you referenced the laura ingalls wilder books. i can just see the illustration of laura and mary bouncing the inflated pig bladder between them. i dont have kids, but i have noticed with my 9 nieces and nephews that there is a sense of entitlement-expecting the cell phones and ipods, etc. stuff they dont take care of and end up being kicked around their bedroom floor. its crazy! their parents have started simplifying things and its gone pretty smoothly. its a smart move, but you already know that :)
ps-keep big boys nativity-he will love it and cherish it in a few years. even if he doesnt, i bet his future wife will.
Thanks for the vote of confidence Noyb. Everyone got their own age appropriate creche last year. Baby girls is a stuffed version. Big Boys is one piece carved into jade (I think). I thought it was cool. It wasn't like that was all he got- he just thought it really sucked. Such a stinker!
I go overboard too. I need to simplify.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Simplifying is a very worthy goal. Last year my brothers and sisters decided to do away with presents all together (except for the little kids)and instead my parents each gave us an alotment of money, to which we added our own contributions, with which we used to help someone else. The only requirement was that we write about what we did with the money and then we all shared our experiences on Christmas day. It was awesome! We're doing the same thing again this year. It works for us because we're all adults :) You may already do this, but find a way for your kids to give to others. Those were some of the best christmas memories I had as a kid. Don't really remember all the presents, but I remember the acts of service. Thanks for sharing Kelly! Love reading your blog.
Melissa
I think about that pig bladder all the time!!! Nothing makes me want to simplify more than trying to clean the toy room. We have TOO much, and we never get new toys for anything but birthdays and Christmas....turns out that even that is too much!! Every year when I am buying for Christmas, I want there to be that big WOW feeling when they walk down the stairs and see what brought, but I have to keep reminding myself that maybe a tiny bit of disappointment in the moment will help them appreciate things more in the long run. right? I need to really convince myself more, you see. The boys are getting a trampoline this year, which they haven't even thought to ask for, and that means they won't be getting any the big toys that they did ask for. I am trying to prepare myself for a little whining when they first come down the stairs.
I want my own nativity creche . . .
Oh wait, I'm not 15. I wouldn't have wanted it then. I would have been more polite about the gift, though.
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