Comments on: Inspiring Sanity

By: marian

marian — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:33:40 +0000

Thanks for the link. I think it would be useless to forward it to my parents– I mean, I’ve already tried to communicate this using several tracks– but I would love to.

We just celebrated one of my kids’ birthdays with them over the weekend. That kid came home with 3 items (toy, game, book). And of course Grandma just can’t let the siblings feel excluded and just, you know, let the day be about the birthday boy (even though I’ve begged as I see it making them, “Where’s Mine?!” brats whenever someone else gets a gift.) So each of the other 3 kids got 2 items each. And then the, “Oh I picked this up a while ago and forgot about it,” gift came out for one of the non-birthday kids. So, 1 birthday = 10 new toys/books in the house X 4 kids’ birthdays per year = 40 + the Christmas/Easter/Dollar Store for no reason at all onslaughts… crazy!

The thing about it is, *I* do want to bless my kids with a gift or even two on these occasions, but the quantity already in place from others takes away the blessing all the way around.

Ok, so now I’m venting on you in your comments section, aren’t I? That’s cheery. Hey, have a great day, Antique Mommy. I appreciate you and your blog.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:05:02 +0000

Thanks for the link — I linked to both you and her as well.

In my husband’s large-ish family, we all stopped exchanging gifts in favor of a white elephant exchange several years ago. It’s fun to buy one fun (or dud) gift and then have an agreeable time fighting over them. A great time is had by all, and we reminisce over past years’ gifts every year, which we would never do with the usual stuff. It frees us to buy things that make us laugh — the singing Christmas tree, the Chia pet, the frog garden sculpture.

By: Caitlin - Bridgets Flame

Caitlin - Bridgets Flame — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 02:34:05 +0000

Great link. We have the family thing sorted out, kids only, but there are still a few friends and acquaintances that give gifts (so I reciprocate). That post inspired me to write an email suggesting we stop and linking to that post to support my suggestion.

It’s going on my blog too.

Thanks for the link.

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 00:44:20 +0000

Oh what a great post, thanks for the link! I really couldn’t agree more. Buying just for the sake of buying is just dumb!

By: Sue

Sue — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 22:51:14 +0000

Amen! My extended family swore off exchanging presents a few years ago, so we only have to buy for our children, and it’s made the holidays so much less stressful and expensive. Instead we draw the name of a family member and buy an ornament for their family. Much, much better.

By: Maddy

Maddy — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 16:53:28 +0000

Indeed. Fortunately for me, I was naughty in February which means that we have two December birthdays to navigate first before we can even think of Christmas.
Cheers [or should that be compliments of the season?]

By: Antique Mommy

Antique Mommy — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:51:46 +0000

Last year I finally got our family to agree to only do presents for kids living at home – no adults – and it made the holiday season so much more enjoyable.

By: Linda

Linda — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:40:30 +0000

Thanks. So important, so true.

This is the first year hubby and I have agreed to not exchange gifts (it’s just the two of us). It’s liberating to not have to worry about what to get and, just as bad, what to receive that I don’t need, can’t find a place to store, and will just give away within the next year. I’m enjoying decorating, baking, traveling to look at the city lights so much more!

By: bonniebeth

bonniebeth — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:08:10 +0000

Amen!