A very sad christmas?

Question

My dad got laid off at work, we don't have insurance and very little money for Christmas. My parents are putting off their Christmas for me and my older brother. I don't know what to do. We have about 400 dollars for chirstmas which means they're going to spend about $150 on each of us. Some money is going to bills and food. It's not that we can't get presents, it's that they've been buying cigerettes and telling us we don't have any money so we can't do the things we want to. We can't live like normal kids because they're smoking. If I try to stand up to them for me and my bro, they just yell at us. Tell us we're being rude and "it's hard to quit". I know that it is cause I took health last year in school, but jeez, I'm in a lose-lose situation. They're killing themselves and I'm suffering too. I hate inhaling that stuff. It's disgusting.

Is anyone else going to have a sad, awful Christmas this year?

Whoa, hey! I never said I was upset because I don't get presents! Read the details again before you assume I'm sad because I don't get what I want! Jeez...

Answer 1

You have several problems here. One is that your parents smoke and you can't stand it. Another is that you believe your parents' habit is eating up money that could go toward you and your brother. Another is that money is tight and that your Christmas will suffer because of it, or so you think.

Although these issues are related to each other, I think you need to look at them separately.

1) The smoking issue: yes, ideally, your parents should quit smoking. This is very hard to do. If they are not ready to fight their addiction, no nagging from you will help. Try talking to their/your doctor, or to a teacher or school nurse or guidance counselor, and perhaps to an aunt or uncle or clergypeson.. Find some material from the American Cancer Society. Talk to them one more time, sitting down, face to face, as nonjudgmentally as possible, and tell them that you're concerned about their health and yours, and that you don't like breathing their cigarette smoke. The ACS should have info about the dangers of second-hand smoke. If they don't listen to you, they're simply not ready to quit. Maybe you can ask them to cut back at least.

2) The money issue: it's no picnic, especially for men, to be out of a job. Parents feel terrible when they can't provide for their children. A guilt trip from you won't help. Learn to cut back and do without. BTW, you can find good Christmas gifts for $50, $25, or less, or even for free. Are you and your brother old enough to get part-time jobs? Can you babysit? Mow lawns or shovel snow or deliver groceries or be a paid companion to an elderly person? Can you tutor? Can your mom get a job and you two and your dad take on a bigger share of the household chores? Encourage Dad that he can find another job soon. Remember that it's the Bush Administration and the economy is lousy for most of us.

3) The Christmas issue: "Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." --Dr. Seuss, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". You can find Christmas in the singing of carols, in the preparation of special foods, in the little things you do for your family and friends, in window shopping and sightseeing, in remembering the Baby Jesus. Don't judge the size of your Christmas spirit by the price of your gifts.

Read the original lyrics of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas":
http://www.phillyburbs.com/christmascarols/merrylittle.shtml
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2001/dec/james_taylor/011219.james_taylor.html

...and have yourself a merry little Christmas now!

Answer 2

I know it is tough, because I've been through some moneyless times myself. Your parents are spending more than enough money on Christmas, considering that your dad is out of work. I have never had that much money to spend on my teenagers. Fortunately, I started teaching them early that Christmas is not a big spend-fest. As for the smoking, you've had some good advice above. Pitch in and show your parents that you want to help in anyway you can, by saving money, cutting corners here and there, helping out at home, and by being healthy. Bless you, honey. It won't be a sad Christmas. You and your brother think of ways to make it the best ever.

Answer 3

So, your poor father has been laid off but is still going to spend the majority of the money they have on you and your older brother for your presents for Christmas and your still complaining. Your horrible and selfish. Perhaps you should tell them to spend that $150 that would have gone to your presents on Nicotine patches so they can give up smoking. Wow... your just filled with the Christmas spirit. get over it, there are people in a lot worse situations than you...like your poor father who got laid off and faces an uncertain future and has nothing but kids who want more and more.

Answer 4

Be glad they're spending $150 on you and your brother. When my husband and I seperated my 2 kids and myself didn't get anything for Christmas that year...not even Christmas dinner.
We celebrated our newly found freedom from a disfunctional life and mentally abusive husband/father. We were happy and we had each other and now that our life is back to normal we can look back and see how tough it was. This helps us appreciate what we have now.

Answer 5

How about having the love of your life murdered 4 days before Christmas? That was 1993 for me. And what ungrateful of a brat you are. You have a roof over your head and food to eat. Wait till you have kids of your own before you judge your parents for their vices. 8:(

Answer 6

Get some new or good condition cast iron horseshoes without rust with the U shape facing up for good luck.

These costs only about $5.00 or less.

You might even get the good condition ones for free.

Please get these, they really do bring good luck and you will get good luck from these.

Answer 7

ya! my christmas is not going to be the same as last year.

Answer 8

yea =/

Answer 9

goddamn you sound spoiled.It's not all about you!