Holiday- help me think through a pared down Christmas that doesn't deprive my kids

[Anonymous]

An ew family board or card game to open and play together over the holidays.

[Anonymous]

Skip the card this year. Ask your DDs for a wishlist and spend a few hours online to purchase everything you can afford. Fill in with small items that catch your eye online and at the grocery store. Buy a bunch of gift bags and tissue. By the time you have read all these replies, you would be done.

[Anonymous]

My mom was depressed like you one Christmas. We did our best to put on a happy face and act like we didn’t care that she decided to pass on most of the previous year’s tradition. It sucked. Your kids will likely do the same.

[Anonymous]

Pro tip, of all the many presents the kids got a $20 set of inkjoy gel pens from Target and a nice notebook/sketch pad is still going strong as most loved, most used gift.

Maybe the gel pens aren’t your kids thing, but something thoughtful along those lines can bring a big smile and then actually be used all year long to boot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom was depressed like you one Christmas. We did our best to put on a happy face and act like we didn’t care that she decided to pass on most of the previous year’s tradition. It sucked. Your kids will likely do the same.

This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom was depressed like you one Christmas. We did our best to put on a happy face and act like we didn’t care that she decided to pass on most of the previous year’s tradition. It sucked. Your kids will likely do the same.

What did your dad to step up and make the holiday special? Or was it just your mom who “sucked,” what with holidays being solely women’s work and all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was depressed like you one Christmas. We did our best to put on a happy face and act like we didn’t care that she decided to pass on most of the previous year’s tradition. It sucked. Your kids will likely do the same.

This

And your dad, hmm? So your dad picked up the slack and made everything special? Or did he suck, too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was depressed like you one Christmas. We did our best to put on a happy face and act like we didn’t care that she decided to pass on most of the previous year’s tradition. It sucked. Your kids will likely do the same.

What did your dad to step up and make the holiday special? Or was it just your mom who “sucked,” what with holidays being solely women’s work and all?

He was deployed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was depressed like you one Christmas. We did our best to put on a happy face and act like we didn’t care that she decided to pass on most of the previous year’s tradition. It sucked. Your kids will likely do the same.

What did your dad to step up and make the holiday special? Or was it just your mom who “sucked,” what with holidays being solely women’s work and all?

Didn’t say she sucked, pp. You misread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was depressed like you one Christmas. We did our best to put on a happy face and act like we didn’t care that she decided to pass on most of the previous year’s tradition. It sucked. Your kids will likely do the same.

What did your dad to step up and make the holiday special? Or was it just your mom who “sucked,” what with holidays being solely women’s work and all?

He was deployed.

No wonder your mom was depressed pp. you suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This fall has been a lot (work stress requiring long hours/full focus, a few funerals, spouse traveling for work, etc). We also had some unanticipated expenses so I am not feeling as flush. Normally this time of year I have made good progress in terms of present shopping, planning for the holidays. But this year. I just can't muster the energy and enthusiasm.

Have already decided not to do a card, though maybe if I have the time over Xmas break, I will get it together and send a new years's card. We went on some nice trips this year.

My kids are in upper elementary and middle school (DD). I don't want to be a grinch. They don't really need anything. They love to read and the usual stuff. Could I get away with minimal gifts (thinking a gift card for clothes as they love choosing clothes themselves) and like candy/chocolat? They love to read and play video games together. I am just not feeling it with all the stocking stuffers, stuff I normally wouldn't question in the past, but just feels like a waste of money/landfill space? I'd rather save our money for meaningful experience (trip) but I don't know if I will have that planned out when it's Christmas.

Help! They are great kids. They want for nothing. But they are kids, after all, and none of this is their fault.

You have to tell them ahead of time so there won't be disappointment. Could you get them each four presents? Something to read, something they want, something to eat and something they need? Plus, do activities such as bake cookies, go to Brookside gardens or see neighborhood lights, go on a hike, museum etc.

[Anonymous]

Definitely downsize. Make cookies, put up decorations, or whatever things are fun for the family. Play video games together. Buy them some books and chocolate and some board/card games you can play as a family. It's okay not to buy a bunch of crap; that's not actually depriving your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom was depressed like you one Christmas. We did our best to put on a happy face and act like we didn’t care that she decided to pass on most of the previous year’s tradition. It sucked. Your kids will likely do the same.

What did your dad to step up and make the holiday special? Or was it just your mom who “sucked,” what with holidays being solely women’s work and all?

He was deployed.

No wonder your mom was depressed pp. you suck.

You have a reading comprehension issue. She didn’t know how we felt and we understood why. That doesn’t mean it didn’t suck. Sorry my post triggered you.

[Anonymous]

Agree with pp that you need to tell them all the downsizing ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

Just tell them what you told us: you are not able to spend the time and money on a holiday card or gifts going forward. This Christmas will be about spending time together and not on material things. Honesty is the best policy.