As far as Christmas goes, we have a "quantity issue" for our girls because each our parents are divorced...so that makes for 4 sets of grandparents that want to spoil them. Add the 2 aunts and 1 uncle into the mix and we have presents galore. Unfortunately, this amounts to a good 12+ presents for each kid.

Now, I don't mind the day being a big event for them as long as it is done with the proper perspective. First off, our kids know the phrase, "If you really want that then ask for it for your birthday/Christmas." They know that their needs are always going to be met, but the special stuff comes on special days. We do not indulge them the rest of the year. Secondly, we donate pretty heavily to food drives, we perform countless service projects for Girl Scouts, and we contribute to the “adopt a family” program at church. But I believe our most important tradition is to have each of our girls pick out and shop for their own Christmas Angel. It is their responsibility to provide for that child and deliver it themselves. I may not be able to stop their grandparents from going overboard, but I can make sure that they will always understand the meaning of "giving" this time of year.

This year my girls will be opening one box from us with 3 Disney cutie purses filled with knickknacks I've picked up from the Character Warehouse. Each will have a separate cryptic note formatted on the old DL entrance sign. When they put them together, they'll figure out that their Christmas present is a trip out to DL on New Year's Day where we'll be meeting up with Katiesue if she doesn't kick it by then ;).

swanie

I got a 35mm camera for my 16th Birthday, which was also my Christmas present, and my next years birthday present. Top that :rolleyes:

You win.

Here are all the gifts I've ever gotten from my parents:

* a very small teddy bear when I was five at a "report card party"
* a tiny Ernie doll that my dad brought back when he went out of town
* a dog from my dad (ok, that was really cool) when I was eight
* I got to pick out a toy at a toy store once, I didn't want to take too much, so I picked out another small bear
* a doll at another report card party
* The board game Huggermugger from my dad when I was twelve (that game rocks!
* a bracelet from my mom when I graduated high school and a watch from my dad
* $100 worth of flowers for my wedding from my dad
* $50 for my wedding from my mom
* a talking picture frame for my fourth anniversary from my mom

I am not kidding you, that is every gift I've ever gotten from my parents in my entire life. And though we weren't rich, it wasn't really because we were poor. It was because my parents spent all their money on a dysfunctional money war. My dad bought a motorcycle without telling my mom, so she had to have a horse, he spent a ton of money on show pigeons and model airplanes (the kind you fly), so my mom had to have Bonsai and antique musical instruments, my dad spent $3500 on an early computer, etc... Though I will say that a good side of that is that I don't have any interest in getting gifts for special occassions unless they are inspired. And I have no sense of obligatory gift giving.

Every Birthday: $50 check from Dad and a $20 bill from Mom

Okay, I have a hideous story to tell. You know, since we're kinda dredging up the family angst.
:D

When I was 6, my dad called me from work and told me that he bought me a dog for my birthday. I was thrilled. I started making a bed for him and getting bowls together for his food and water... My dad shows up with a ceramic bloodhound statue. It was to be used as a doorstop.

I was devistated. He thought it was funny. I did not.

OMG, GC!!!! That is sooooo mean. That is took my nephew to a burned down warehouse and told him Disneyland had burned down mean.

Michael's parents once sold his dog while he was at school without any warning at all.

It's even worse than you think.
Prior to the ceramic dog affair, we had moved from a house to a townhouse. The townhouse was too small for my 2 pet Basenjis. So my parents gave them to my grandfather (my dad'd dad, not my mom's dad who I adored) and he put them to sleep. He said they were aggressive and bit him. He had them put down.
So, dogs were a touchy subject with me (at freakin' 6 years old) and the ceramic dog joke didn't go off too well with me.

Years later, when the ceramic dog got chipped and broken, I threw him away. Before I did, though, I threw it against a brick wall shattering it.
;)

Edited to add: I never forgave my grandfather for that and did not speak to him from that point until his death about 5 years ago.

Wow. This has become such a cheerful thread.

Sorry, I'll stop.
Sorry for derailing, Nephy.

......


Happy story:

My parents had the most hideous fake Christmas tree ever. It rotated when it was plugged in and played various carols in beeping noises.

Horrible.

:D