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

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[quote=Anonymous]Agree that stockings shouldn't be filled with crap.  It can be a mix of fun stuff like chocolate with stuff you might have gotten them anyway.  My DD needs new gloves this winter, they will be in her stocking rather than a random "here's your new gloves" in January.  New toothbrush, $5 giftcard to their local favorite ice cream or coffee shop, pack of gum or mints if they like those things.  Basically a lot of practical stuff but somehow it's more fun if it's in a stocking!

You can pare down gifts, totally fine to use the something to wear/read/need/want concept, and if they're old enough you can let them know that you're going to dial back gifts and focus on the season.  If your Christmas isn't going to revolve around gifts, have some plans to fill the day.  Maybe it's a big breakfast and then a family hike or cookie baking or a big family Monopoly competition complete with popcorn and cocoa.

Where you have the energy, you can fill the days before and after with fun and often inexpensive activities.  US Botanical Gardens, driving around to see Christmas lights (best done in pajamas with hot cocoa in a thermos), charades night where the theme is all things holiday.  You can google or check Pinterest for lots of low or no cost seasonal activities.  The Christmas boat show or whatever it's called down on the Potomac is fun, we have fun wandering around Old Town Alexandria before and after.  In addition to the Kennedy Center I'll bet there are lots of churches near you doing scaled down versions of the Messiah or nights of caroling by their choirs.  Get dressed up and go listen one night!

In our house things like always having Christmas music on in the background make a difference.  Sometimes it's silly pop versions, other times it's low key instrumentals of favorite carols but it adds to the season.[/quote]

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