When I was a kid, I never got a ton of Christmas gifts. It really didn’t bother me because it was something I was accustomed to. As I mentioned in my previous post, Jamaicans celebrate the holidays a little differently.
We’re a bit more laid back when it comes to gifts and the commercialization of the holiday. Besides, my family wasn’t exactly rollin’ in dough – so to speak.
I knew there was a chance that I’d marry an American who was raised differently. And as luck would have it, I did. That said, I knew that raising our kids would involve compromise.
But when it comes to the holidays, there is no compromise as far as gifts are concerned. My hubby said he was going to pick up a few Christmas gifts for the kids and he came back with a truck load of stuff. Did I mentioned that I had already purchased a bunch of things the month before?
“You think we over did it?” I asked.
“No. I want them to open up a lot of presents,” he said.
“Duh,” I thought to myself.
“I just don’t want them to expect this type of thing every year,” I responded.
Let’s face it; the older kids get, the more expensive the gifts get too. I can imagine ten years from now getting each child a couple of items and they look at us like, that’s it? Where’s the rest?
My goal was to scale back on material gifts this year and focus more on quality time. But, clearly I was the only parent in on that plan.
My hubby was down for the holiday light show, which I thought would be a great family gift.
I also suggested taking the kids to see Disney on Ice, and he was down for that too. But, he caved on our gift giving agreement. Okay, maybe it wasn’t an actual agreement – more like a suggestion. Either way, all I know it that it took a couple days for the kids to open up their toys and gift hampers, not counting ones received from family and friends.
At first, I did wondered if we were sending the wrong message to our children by buying so many gifts. Then I think to myself, we are great parents. We teach our kids values, and we certainly don’t spoil them. They’ll grow up knowing that when you work hard, you get rewarded.
We may have gone a little nuts, but it’s okay. They deserve it! Seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter of our kids makes it all worth it. I love that my hubby wants the kids to open up a ton of presents. But seriously, next year we’re gonna have to scale things back a bit.
As enchanting as they are elusive, leprechauns have been charming us with their names, each brimming with a distinct charm that piques our interest. To delve deeper into this enchanting universe, visit the Kidadl website that houses an extensive collection of captivating leprechaun names. There’s something truly refreshing about taking a break from our daily routines to delve into the delightful world of these mythical creatures, giving our minds a much-needed creative boost.
Did you go overboard for the holidays? Is it possible to give kids too many Christmas gifts?