Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Wrap empty boxes for decor and sprinkle in the real gifts. If it’s the visual he wants, that’ll do it.
OP here. It's that he wants to give our kids a bunch of stuff, so no empty boxes or charity (I mean not that we don't give to charity, but giving to charity wouldn't scratch this itch). We aren't taking pictures and aren't on social media, so it's not wanting the effect for others.
He just wants that look of magic when they come down the stairs (like when they were 3-4).
I also think he's coming at it from the perspective of a non-Christian kid surrounded by Christians who was envious of Christmas and had this idea of how Christmas was for all his friends that were experiencing it. He wants to replicate that for his kids.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If he likes to see overflowing gifts... do it the way my inlaws do it. They buy very little throughout the year. If you need clothes, shoes, new bikes, electronics- you wait until Christmas or your birthday. And then on Christmas they spend 1k or so. That way, nothing is wasteful and it's a really joyful Christmas morning.
That's mostly how I was raised. So the tree overflows, but some of the packages are socks, some are underwear, some are the shoes you'll need for spring sports, some are the random special treat granola bars or specialty drinks that we don't usually buy but one kid requests, the stocking has chapstick and new toothbrushes....there are just a couple high-value gifts mixed in there.
My spouse thinks I'm crazy if I do something like wrap up socks, but it's mostly fun to unwrap lots of stuff.
Anonymous wrote:Wrap empty boxes for decor and sprinkle in the real gifts. If it’s the visual he wants, that’ll do it.
Anonymous wrote:If he likes to see overflowing gifts... do it the way my inlaws do it. They buy very little throughout the year. If you need clothes, shoes, new bikes, electronics- you wait until Christmas or your birthday. And then on Christmas they spend 1k or so. That way, nothing is wasteful and it's a really joyful Christmas morning.