Christmas at our house is usually an orgy of toys for our daughter. My grandmother goes crazy and there is a pile of presents which she marks from Santa. My daughter is very appreciative, but I know grandma isn't going to be with us forever, and when that time comes I don't want my daughter to wonder why Santa doesn't bring the big pile of loot. I would also like my daughter to know how generous her grandma is and thank her for the things.
We have tried different things over the years, but this year I would like to have one or two big things come from Santa and the rest be marked from whoever is actually giving the gifts. We have also tried opening the grandparent presents on Christmas Eve and the Santa presents on Christmas Day; that was the best so far.
What have you done to try to make the season less greedy and more meaningful? Is that even a realistic expectation?
Christmas was so much simpler when we were kids!!
2006-09-27 08:42:13 · 12 answers · asked by S V S 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
Wasn't it simpler then?
Your daughter is so lucky to have such a doting Grandma!! I think you're perfectly in the right to as your mom/in-laws or any other relative for that matter to cut back on the "Santa" gifts and to encourage her to thank her grandparents.
My suggestion for adding more meaning to the season would be to have your daughter take a giving tree tag (if your community does them - most do) and encourage her to pick out toys for the child herself. Even more meaningful if you can take the tag of a child her age - you can explain that this little girl might not get any presents from her mommy & daddy and this is a chance for her to pretend to be Santa and make her Christmas happy....
You could encourage her to look at the toys she doesn't play with any more and donate them to a community center, etc. (if they are in good shape) for other kids to play with (not as gifts). (bonus here: cleans out her toybox for the stuff she will inevitably get).
You could also look into volunteering at a soup kitchen, or look into putting up and decorating a tree at a nursing home (this might be more fun for her if she's young). Your daughter could help you, you could do it as a family, and you can begin to teach her that not everyone is as fortunate as she is and that the holidays are a time of sharing and giving back.
Good luck!
2006-09-27 08:50:40 · answer #1 · answered by sylvia 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was little, the only presents from Santa were the ones in my stocking on Christmas morning, just little things. I don't remember being so disappointed that Santa wasn't real, and I think that may be a part of it. That said, once when I was very little, probably four, on Christmas Eve I heard some bells jingling outside the house, then my sister went downstairs to the door and brought back up a pink scooter with a big bow on it, and everyone told me it was from Santa. It was cute, and a fun memory! But I'm glad that my parents didn't do that every year. They let me believe without overdoing it.
2016-03-18 02:01:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only presents I marked from Santa were the ones I actually got for them. All other gifts from everyone else were acknowledged. I had 4 children (all pretty much grown now), so they go 3 each and I tried to get a game for the whole family (life, monopoly, etc.)
It wasn't til they got older that they started to appreciate the meaning because I decided to give them cash when they were old enuf to go to the mall and get the day after sales. The presents were no longer under the tree, they focused on the time we spent together on Christmas Eve. We had hot chocolate, the Archway holiday cookies, and watch Christmas specials (Charlie Brown Christmas, Year without a Santa Claus, etc.)
Put more into what you do instead of what she gets, and she will fall in line.
Hope this helps!
2006-09-27 10:51:33 · answer #3 · answered by dct1218 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I admire you and think you are on the right track. Just wish more Americans would do the same.
We made some major changes for Christmas. At first, it was not a popular decision with the family but as time went on, everyone agreed it was much better. Put a limit on what you would like your child to receive. Talk to your family about it and make it clear what your expectations are.
One thing we did was to adopt a needy family during the Christmas season and provide gifts for the kids and the parents. Most cities have shelters or rescue missions or other agencies who can hook you up. One agency we like to give to is Angel Tree who provides gifts to children of prisoners. There are groups all over the US, check the link below for info.
We tried to take the focus off of receiving and on to giving, that is giving to the truly needy.
Best of luck with your plan, I think it is a good one! More power to you.
2006-09-27 08:53:03 · answer #4 · answered by Tatochka 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Santa brings one big gift and stocking stuff to our house. I try to do 8-10 gifts per child. ... I have a friend that only does 3 presents for each child because of the gifts that the three wisemen brought. ... I also knew a man that for every new thing his son got he had to give an old toy to charity.
Grandma on the other hand,,,she has no boundaries. We have tried, but .... nothing works. God love her!
2006-09-27 08:54:05 · answer #5 · answered by Why do you ask? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's so hard to be a grandparent and want to give those precious kids the world!!! Usually we have more money than we dd when our own kids were little and there's so much out there!!
However, YOU are the parent and you need to set guidelines. You might want to tell the grands that you will get one or two presents "from Santa" and they should limit themselves to ____for each child clearly labled as from them.
Encourage them to start or contribute to a college fund. Sure, the kids won't appreciated it now, but it will be a wonderful thing down the road.
2006-09-27 08:48:24 · answer #6 · answered by Maria 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We just do one medium big ($20) toy from Santa and then in the stocking go about 7-8 small ($1-$2) toys that they get to open before everyone wakes up. My three kids are quite happ with this...TV advertising is often what makes us feel we have to get every big toy out there.
2006-09-27 09:11:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give Give GIVE--have your child pick a name or names from a christmas tree and help those kids less fortunate. Teach her giving is always better than getting. you can tell her you have to pay santa for what he brings and the other childrens parents are having a hard time.remember jesus is the reason for the season.
2006-09-27 09:33:11 · answer #8 · answered by zgirl29171 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My children really only have my husband and myself to give them gifts. My brother is usually too broke and my husband's family doesn't acknowlege them. My kids always get a huge amount of gifts and to me, that is fine. they are only kids once! They know where the stuff comes from, we don't do the whole Santa thing.
2006-09-27 08:53:17 · answer #9 · answered by AsianPersuasion :) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I save thru out the yr and then buy at x-mas so that 1 I have the money and 2 the kids enjoy it.. plus I've always done it that way so they know it's coming (sorta)
2006-09-27 12:26:13 · answer #10 · answered by waiting4myredemption 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋