Susan GrahamChristmas Gifts and Grandma Gifts
December 5th 2008 03:17
Photo courtesy Microsoft Clip Art
In our family, "Santa" comes first thing Christmas morning with gifts from Hubby and me. A couple of hours later, Mimi and Grandpa come over and bring their presents. Then the rest of the family comes and brings more presents. It makes sense that Santa should bring the most gifts, right? Mimi and Grandpa's gifts can be plentiful, but they should not overshadow Santa Claus, for Pete's sake!
So now I feel like I'm in a competition with my mother to buy more presents than she does. And that's hard to do because she is a shopaholic. I don't think I should say anything to her because that would break her heart. She gets such joy out of buying for the kids. But at the same time, I hate the greed and consumerism of Christmas, and overdoing the presents sends the wrong message to the kids.
So this is my dilemma: Do I spend way more than my budget trying to compete with Mimi Claus? Or do I just give the kids what I think they should have, and if Mimi spoils them with too many gifts, so be it? It's a tricky situation.
I've had a hard time shopping for the kids this year anyway. Princess has gotten to the age where she doesn't really play with toys anymore. She doesn't like Barbies or dolls or Little Ponies or Polly Pockets anymore. She likes to read books, play piano, and draw pictures. So I'm afraid that on Christmas morning, she will open all her gifts of art supplies and new books and have nothing to actually play with. That is my biggest fear.
In the meantime, my mother has bought her toys regardless of whether she likes them or not. If they are flashy, pink or feminine, she has bought them. Sure, she is wasting her money because Princess will play with them for five minutes and never touch them again. But on Christmas day, Mimi will be the hero.
I guess I'm worrying too much about a single day. In the long run, Christmas days all run together. It's really not that big of a deal. I just want everyone to have a wonderful, magical Christmas. I hope that's what ends up happening.
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