There Is Such A Thing As Enough…
Posted by PaulDec 22
…I know, that’s a shocker coming from me, but it ’s true.
I’m talking about Christmas here.
When the kids were little, I always noticed a sense of overwhelming from them about an hour after all the gift giving and opening was done.
After 20 years, I finally figured it out.
It was too much.
When it comes to Christmas, as much as I hate it, I tend to over do it.
A tad.
Now, I’m sure all my friends at Macy’s, Wal-Mart, Target, Perry Ellis, The Gap, and Old Navy would tend to disagree, but you can over do at Christmas time.
It’s easy to get there. Ah, just one more thing for Jane, and then you have to even it up for Dick. And then there’s poor Spot!
It tends to….I don’t know…
…explode.
A child’s Christmas list may kill a tree with paper, but in reality, they want less materially and more emotionally.
Make Christmas special, but make it realistic.
I’m not saying go cold turkey this year, but pare it down a little each year.
Know when to say enough.
A great dinner, cookies, candies, a few presents, and you really can have a Norman Rockwell Christmas.
After all, why shell out all that cash when most of the time they’re gonna’ wind up playing with the box?
Merry Christmas!
3 comments
Comment by Charlie on December 22, 2009 at 7:43 am
Old habits are difficult to change. Haven’t completely learned to do this yet, although Diane did a little better this year by buying all year long when things were on sale. She actually saved them until Christmas.
Comment by Jenny (your lovely niece) on December 22, 2009 at 9:14 am
I got my kids waaaaaay too much this year. I am already regretting it and it’s not even time to open presents yet! Of course I didn’t *spend* too much, but I still GOT too much. Ergh. And the box thing, SO TRUE.
Comment by Lori on December 22, 2009 at 9:03 pm
We’ve tamed down Christmas at our house. I typically buy throughout the year, but with finances tight (and me out of a job until October) we were unable to collect things along the way. And our house is about 1/3 decorated than any other given Christmas (which I’m attributing to said job and crazy working hours, etc). Even with taming things down, I still feel so overwhelmed. Calgon, take me away!