I hope this does not make me sound like a total moron.
But what would happen if I skipped Christmas.
I mean, I love Christmas. I love the meaning of Christmas.
It is a joyous day to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
I love getting together with family and friends for Christmas.
I even enjoy the decorating part. I love the cooking and eating part.
The sending and receiving of Christmas cards part.
I just don't like the shopping part. The good lord and my family know that I am a gung ho shopper in general.
I just find Christmas shopping to be such a stress inducing part of life. I started worrying about it last month. It is not even the money part, it is the "finding the right gift for everyone" part.
I know I am going out on a limb here, but why do we need to exchange gifts????
I heard a rumour it started with The Three Wise men....but I bet they were not stressed.
They were overjoyed to bring the gifts and Baby Jesus was happy just to be.
The three gifts he received....gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
Two of those are not for sale at the mall.
Why does there have to be gifts at all?
I would be fine if I never got another Christmas gift in my life. really.
Perhaps I am just being a curmudgeon. I don't know...my dad used to complain about Christmas too and then run out and spend tons of money last minute. But of course he was manic.
That was how he rolled. He would be in debt the rest of the year.
I know my girls don't feel the same way, but even the last few years they realize how much they already have and are only given a few gifts from Mom and Dad.
Grandparents, they are another story all together....I can't control them. ;)
I suppose what I really want to do is skip the gift exchange...not Christmas in itself.
I know way back when, Christmas was not celebrated by running out to Macy's for some last minute items to fill a list, all the while stressing in traffic and worrying if you can pay off your credit card this month, when will you have time to wrap the gifts, did I spend enough on so and so, did I buy equally for all the kids, what am I going to make for dinner, why can't these kids stop arguing, who took out the dog, how did I not get to exercise today, did I even take a shower today, who is calling me now.....etc....
Do you think I could start a new movement?
Are you willing to join in and make a stand? You can sit if you are tired.
Or are you already standing in line at Target for the newest toy/gadget/camera/etc...
On a side note, I enjoy buying for charity, giving to the needy (next year, the needy may be ME)
That has always been fun.
I suppose I figure needy people are needy and will enjoy the little gifts I can offer....
any advise???? Am I the Grinch for 2008?
My three girls 2007
(unaware that their Mom is turning into the grinch)
You are on track. we set limits this year. Its just crazy how it can get out of hand and suddenly you are giving or receiving a ridiculous amount of gifts. I feel like we are way too old to get huge amounts of gifts from our parents. As the girls get older, or whomever you give to, you can just start setting limits like one year its 3 gifts each or $100 total or something....Especially in this economy!!!
ReplyDeleteI would so do this but I think the people who are on the receiving end of our gift giving would not be thrilled. (We get that Nordstrom discount!) But this year due to the move and finances we are going VERY LIGHT. Probably just one gift per family member. The part that also sucks for us is having to ship every gift to 10 different households! Ugh now I'm stressed thinking about this.
ReplyDeleteWe started feeling this way many years ago in our family. Because it's your typical BIG Italian family, there are just too many people to buy for. The past several years we've been having a grab bag for the adults. We set the limit at whatever we all decide (It started at $30, last year it was $50) and then we only have to buy one gift. Although, we do a silly $5 grab bag gift every year. This provides entertainment for most of the evening! I'll probably have to post about it soon.
ReplyDeleteI don't really exchange with friends anymore, since none of us can really afford it. Several years ago, I began giving homemade gifts (cookies, fudge, candy, etc) which my friends appreciated much more than any store=-bought gifts. Instead of gifts, we try to get together for dinner and/or drinks one night. We all know that time together is the greatest gift anyway.
I don't know : ). Gary loves gifts. I truly am not crazy about them (especially his picks...) I got Kaish a Nintendo DS. I wanted to just give him the little Playstation hand held game that I got Gary a few years ago that he has NEVER played with, but Gary said he might start soon (yeah right) and Kaish said he just NEEDED a DS because that is what all his friends have. Yadda yadda yadda.
ReplyDeleteLet me know how your movement turns out!
No, you are not the Grinch. I hear you, loud and clear. We quit exchanging gifts years ago, and now we only buy gifts for the kids. We even started buying gift cards for the nieces and nephews so that they could choose their own, as our taste may not jive with theirs. I think the focus on gifts is too much. That's one reason why we started giving to Heifer Project in people's honor, esp. adult people who don't need anything.
ReplyDeleteI think the best thing is to make it simple for everyone, so that we can focus on being together. We are having a potluck "dinner" of hors d'oeuvres and desserts at our house, for about 30 people. Have a great weekend!
I love Christmas with my immediate family. However, we buy for all cousins, aunts, uncles, sister and brother -in laws, it is crazy!! This year I said NO MORE..I am buying for grandparents and cousins who live at home! It can get crazy!
ReplyDeleteBut, I do love the Christmas music even when I am standing in line as long as I have a peppermint mocha...all is well!
-sandy toes
We still have that pic on our fridge. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you WHOLE-HEARTEDLY.
Hubster and I had a talk about this. Because of finances this year (and my "limping" business), we're not going to buy anything for each other - just for the kids. And even that is going to be scaled WAY back. Additionally, I'm going to sign the whole family up to do some service work at some point in December (my Mom did that for our family one year - we actually worked at a shelter that housed homeless families... we did that one year on CHRISTMAS DAY. I was a teenager when we did that, and BOY did it make an impact. As Suz knows, I grew up in a very comfortable home and had pretty much everything I wanted, and I think my Mom knew we needed a "reality check"... well that definitely did it!!)
Anyway, Christmas is all about Jesus... and Jesus was all about LOVE - Love God, Love One Another... so how better to celebrate his love, and his time on earth, with us, than by serving others in love....?
So, that's what we're going to do. I'm sure I'll be met with stunned silence when I tell my family but ultimately, they'll get much more out of Christmas THIS way than they would have gotten out of presents that will be long-forgotten by January.....
We are the same way. We try to keep the gifts to a minimum.
ReplyDeleteAs far as exchanging with friends, we started a tradition several years ago. We have a poker Christmas party with everyone bringing snacks and drinks.
Each person buys in for $5 and we play Texas Hold-Em til the last man (or woman) is standing. But instead of winning the pot, we donate to a charity of the group's choosing.
I couldn't agree more!
ReplyDeleteWe draw names with family members and set a $15 limit. (But the kids are involved in this, so that still means $60 out of our budget from the four of us.)
I have told my friends this year -- let's not do gifts. I believe I said that in August! A few of them agreed, a few of them didn't answer me at all. I may still receive things, but they had fair warning! It's their choice if they want to continue giving, I suppose.
My kids this year are getting one big gift and a few small ones. Which is a huge sacrifice compared to Christmases past where they got 30+ gifts from us. No exaggeration.
We just can't do it this year, and it's really pointless, anyway. I totally agree that it's everything ELSE that makes Christmas. Not the gifts.
"...And all the whos down in Whoville were singing, without any presents at all!"
:) P.S. I didn't take what your wrote in my comments as crass at all! I totally knew how you meant it, and I agree wholeheartedly. Life is too short!
First, let me say I love your blog and have added you to my blogroll so I can visit often (I too am a doggy fan!)
ReplyDeleteSecond, Christmas became such a stress and a burden on our families that one year, I put my foot down and said "no more". Finished with the piles of gifts that nobody really wants or needs, finished with the debts and stress.
Instead, we now take the time to spend the holidays together (split families = many different gatherings) and drink good wine, have potluck dinners and just buy small gifts for the kids. We take the time to appreciate each other's company rather than on commercial frenzy.
Works for us, beautifully :-)
Now that my kids are older I think I'm going to start giving "experiences" as presents. We already have iPods and computers and and. What other things do we really need?
ReplyDeleteI say every year that we are going to cut back and I am the one that never does. I love Christmas, but truly believe it is far too commercial and stress-filled. Great post. See you soon - Kellan
ReplyDeleteI have three grandchildren and the oldest is five. They always love anything they get. That is one of the joys I get out of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThe sad part about this year will be that my younger brother passed away in March. He had been wheelchair bound for over 20 years, mentally handicapped and lived in a nursing home for the last 8-1/2 years. I could get him a cartoon DVD that I paid a buck for and he would be as happy with that as he would be with something way more expensive. He was a joy to give things to because he was always appreciative of what he got. He would always try to get something for his nephews and nieces, sometimes winning them at bingo.
I'm going to miss Ricky this year.
We mainly give to our daughter. I make scrapbook calendars for the grandparents (and myself), which is a personal thing. We opted out of the IL 'family draw names thing' which was mostly just exchanging checks anyway. We give to the kids in the family. My side of the family doesn't exchange at all. I'm right there with you... my husband calls me Scrooge throughout the whole season. Even as scaled back as it is, it's *still* stressful at times. And I think that's sad, since it takes away from the true meaning of the season.
ReplyDeleteI'll take a stand with you! I'm trying not to think about the holidays yet though, so stop it! :)
ReplyDeleteStanding (while sitting) right there with you!! I printed out my Christmas list last week and eliminated 60% or more. Frivilous. Wasteful. I.Hate.To.Shop. I know. I'll mail you my "Girl" card.
ReplyDeleteIt was so liberating, that I belive eliminating the gift part would make my life complete!!! I enjoy everything else about the holiday, but stress over whether someone will like their gift or not. Is it really worth it? I'd rather give gifts throughout the year....as I come across them and think of someone.
All my daughter wants is "clothes and gas cards"......Thank goodness for the Delia's catalog:)
I feel a little like I'm skipping Christmas because I took the Handmade Pledge. I throw away (recycle) every catalog I get. I walk right past the Christmas stuff at Target. It has been awesome!
ReplyDeleteI find the older I get the more I am feeling this way. We decided on my husband's side of the family we are not buying for the kids or adults this year. It gets to the point I am racking my brain to find ideas for gifts for the boys when we already have a basement full!
ReplyDeleteWe will still buy for the boys along with their grandparents and my side. They will have more than they know what to do with!
Good post! I think a lot of people are with you on this one!
wow. i'm surprised that so many people are on the same track when it comes to Christmas. I think because of recent events and an over abundance of spending without thinking many people are realising we have to stop somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI know my Christmas will be scaled way back this year. I usually buy for the sake of it and second guess everything I have bought and often get it wrong. A few carefully chosen gifts for the people I love will be the standard this year and hopefully the season will be spent making good memories.
Pass the Christmas C.D.'s I'm feeling all festive now.
I love the gift giving part of Christmas. I have eliminated friends...they get cards. With ten grandkids and four kids with spouses, I eliminated everyone else.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good thing my parents and grandparents are gone, because snubbing them would be hard.
I agree with the shopping part...I hate it. But I start early when I see something that I would like to give. I also do a lot of internet shopping...have them sent to me then I wrap and send at the appropriate time.
I just received a Lego gift card with catalog for my grandson Pooper (no, I didn't give him that nickname), and an American Girl gift card and catalog for his sister Beauty. I also get pajamas for all of them every year...which means I have all year for just the right ones to catch my eye.
I want to clarify something...just because I cut "friends" out of my gift giving, doesn't mean they cut me out!
And Cocoa? How adorable is she?