I think I need a Christmas mental makeover-

[BarTopDancer]

One big family gift - a vacation, a trip somewhere special. Give memories, not stuff.

Make it fun though, make a scavenger hunt, or wrap up clues in boxes for them to open (one box has travel sized toiletries in it, another has a book about where you're going or what you are going to do, etc...). Then they have *stuff* to open but it's to meet an end.

[wendybeth]

Boy, do I feel your pain. We've told Tori that this year, it's quality, not quantity. She seems good with that, but now I have the two sides of family to address. We always buy gifts for the kids, but there are soooooo frikken many of them! We just can't keep up, so we're considering just giving the older ones gift certificates or money, and not a huge amount either.

[swanie]

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.

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

One big family gift - a vacation, a trip somewhere special. Give memories, not stuff.

Make it fun though, make a scavenger hunt, or wrap up clues in boxes for them to open (one box has travel sized toiletries in it, another has a book about where you're going or what you are going to do, etc...). Then they have *stuff* to open but it's to meet an end.

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