Gift-giving gets too much

its the same here with Rhiannon, she gets so spoilt that we have had to put our foot down and put a limit on what ppl spend on here.

We actually ended up putting a lot of her toys away last christmas and bringing them out throughout the year and using them as rewards.

this year, im about to go through al lthe toys she has, and the ones she plays with the least are going to charity and some toys from christmas will be put away again.

I haven't read all the posts but I understand what you mean! I came to dislike the excess and commercialism of Christmas. So we decided to make Christmas mean something again in our family when Maddie was born.

I read a fabulous idea of gift giving for kids that incorporates our faith wonderfully and hubby and I love. I'm sure something similar could be adopted even if people aren't Christian.

It's pretty simple, Miss M gets 3 gifts from us, total. Each represents the gifts given to baby Jesus.

Gold - this is the expensive or big present. This year for example she is getting a dolls cradle with all the trimmings. I'm knitting a blanket and matching cushion and I know her Nan is also making the bedding to go with it.

Frankincense - this is something that smells nice. Most years we get a small box of fun bath goodies, bubble bath, novelty soaps that sort of thing.

Myrrh - this is the gift that is represented by something that enhances her relationship with God, this year it's a VeggieTales DVD.

We have found this a lot less stressful, a lot less expensive and lot more meaningful which was the most important to us. The rest of her family will also get her small gifts but thankfully no one goes overboard for the kids.

And she still has an awesome Christmas!!!

For the rest of the family, again we get something for each of the kids (nothing overboard though) and for the rest we do Secret Santa. Again, takes away the stress and I've had blast making presents this year and I know my cousin has been too!

Edited by Paws

crafty1 wrote: What is Veggietales and how does it enhance her relationship with god? - not being facetious, actually interested.

It's a Christian kids cartoon series, very cute and funny but also teaches the basics of bible stories and teaches them good morals and ethics at the same time. (and as a bonus rather palatable by adults.)

For example, we borrowed one from the church and it had a story on turning the other cheek and not bullying bullies back otherwise you makes you a bully. the other story was Indiana Cuke and Sampsons hairbrush, Indiana jones rip off that taught the story of Sampson and Dehlia and also that your strength comes from God not from material things.

Edited by Paws