Christmas is NOT about presents!!

Originally posted by blupblup
reply to post by mblahnikluver

 

It must be hard to cut your sister out of you life man.... tough call.

I have done it before and she knows I will do it again. I will not put up with her spoiled attitude and feeling of entitlement. There is not talking reason with her, she gets all pissy and just throws the fact I don't have kids in my face. Well she made that choice to have a kid, I have not and by choice.

We were raised in the same household, how she has these beliefs is beyond me because we were not raised that way.

We are also twins

Originally posted by baddmove
no X-mas at my house..

The wife and me have a YULE dinner and give 1 gift to each other..

forget all that commercialism...

Christmas makes a great Valentine's Day.

reply to post by mblahnikluver




Na I know man, I feel for you..... I think it's just harsh that she doesn't understand that you don't have the money to spend out on presents, it's tough for everyone right now.

I hope you guys sort it out anyway.


Have a merry Christmas.

reply to post by blupblup


Yea she will get over it lol

He will get something but it will have to be after Christmas.

She lives in a bubble world when it comes to living on a budget

Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

reply to post by mblahnikluver


Oh I shunned "Tension Christmas" years ago - - even when my kids were young. I made the decision Christmas should be FUN and about family.

One year I went out and bought a whole bunch of small folding gift boxes - - about 2 inches in diameter. I said - you can only buy or make presents that fit in these boxes - - then we'll hang them on the tree (I always put stuffed animals under the tree).

Of course you could always put jewelry in the boxes - - - but the point was made. The kids got very creative making "gift books" - writing personal notes and poems - - and homemade candy. It was one of the best Christmases ever - - with everyone opening their little boxes of surprise.

One of my mom's favorite sayings was: "I'll be damned if you are cold today - I will wait till Christmas to buy you a winter coat". She'd say: "If you're out shopping anytime throughout the year and you see something you think would be perfect for someone - - you buy it then. AND you give it to them then - - just because you love them all year long".

Every few months I go through my grandson's toys - - - pack up the ones he doesn't play with and donate them.

Sounds like something your sister should do.

reply to post by mblahnikluver


So I guess this means you aren't gonna git me a Lexus for Christmas this year, you lousy skinflint.


Everybody knows that the Christmas spirit is all about buying overly expensive gifts that there's no way you can afford to pay for for all your friends, relatives and people you hardly know from creepy internet websites.

How dare you not git me the Lexus I've been dreaming about this year![atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/a8ecb941f491.gif[/atsimg]

reply to post by mblahnikluver


Actually, I'm am working on, and working out a little thesis (see my sig) which would suggest clearly, that telling little children about Santa from the North Pole, who likes to laugh "Ho ho ho", and giving them presents, and loving everyone within the framework of the brotherhood/sisterhood of mankind, from our family of origin, outwardly, ultimately to envelope the whole world and all of creation by extension (universally) - is very much indeed in perfect congruent alignment with the true meaning and significance of Christmas, all the way around and back again.

Best Regads, and Merry Christmas!

NAM, on behalf of,
Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer (I'm just a temporary stand-in this Christmas).

Take all the consumerism and materialism out of the Christmas season, and you have one magical time of the year. I live near the neck o' the woods Tennessee (at least to me it is) and it is wonderful during Christmas to just take a little walk around the area. It always seems that the world stops for that day, and the few cars that are there during the rest of the year dissappear. The biting cold, last year topped with snow, as you're walking on the side of a barren road near a bunch of leafless trees is always an experience. Just having that memory is gift enough for me, especially if you find some good spot to snuggle in and read a good book.
While I have never experienced your financial pain, I do know your family struggles (don't want to get into that). I tend to be alone on Christmas, just me and my min pin. Even just that though is great.

reply to post by mblahnikluver


I suppose this is a bad time to mention that I was going to ask you to get me an iPad for Christmas???

Actually I agree with you, in general. We should really just dump all of the faux-religious dressing and call this season what it actually is, the season of Greed. Some people take it overboard. But, for others, it's their only chance, during any given year, to feel "special". It's sad that we're trained to equate material possessions with a sense of worth, but it is what it is and we are wired that way.

So... about that iPad...

~Heff

when I can afford it, I splurge, since I don't give gifts out on a regular basis
when I can't afford it, everyone gets handmade gifts and homebaked goodies

it's the thought of thinking of someone high enough to want to give them a gift that counts, not what's beneath the wrapping paper. give your nephew some dollar store toys. Kids if he is little and not a brat will enjoy the toy regardless.

Originally posted by worldwatcher
when I can afford it, I splurge, since I don't give gifts out on a regular basis
when I can't afford it, everyone gets handmade gifts and homebaked goodies

it's the thought of thinking of someone high enough to want to give them a gift that counts, not what's beneath the wrapping paper. give your nephew some dollar store toys. Kids if he is little and not a brat will enjoy the toy regardless.

I was thinking the same... you can get some very fun toys for kids that age at the dollar store.. . its not the price that counts.

When I was that age a coloring book and a pack of crayons would have pleased me to no end.

Originally posted by gabby2011
When I was that age a coloring book and a pack of crayons would have pleased me to no end.

If only my grandson had any interest in coloring. Oh wait! That would require sitting. He does not sit and has not napped since he was 2.

I still keep it simple though. Found a WII kids dance at 1/2 price. Perfect! Already gave it to him as my Christmas present to me LOL

What I did with stockings is put breakfast in them and dollar store toys. My kids were allowed to open their stockings as soon as they got up. Got a few extra ZZZZZZZZZZZZZs from that brilliant idea.

reply to post by gabby2011


I'm really liking the small box gift idea that you hang on a tree.

Originally posted by TheCounselor
reply to post by gabby2011

 

I'm really liking the small box gift idea that you hang on a tree.

I think that was me.

Back during the last recession in my neck of the woods in the early 90s they revived a Solstice Parade that ends with a big festival on the beach as an antidote to the excesses and commercialisation of Christmas, and I have to admit it is a much needed antidote, especially now.