A child and a box of chocolates. Resistance is futile. Michael won’t be able to resist eating the rest of the candy. Sure it’s a sweet craving. But oh the guilt he will have afterwards, and maybe an upset stomach along with it.
John is going to luck out because he is going to get at least one more round of car-or-house-cleaning help from his son to get some more cash!
We still say we “Have” to buy presents. Mostly we want to, but it’s funny how you get caught up in what you “should” buy. Everybody I know does. MIL is buying for well over 40 people. She loves them all, but wouldn’t it be great if we could “short” people we don’t see anything good for or just can’t afford sometimes, and not be guilted? Anyone but your own kids when small should be optional. But it’s not so. If we don’t get SIL another nutcracker she probably doesn’t want, she’ll be hurt. And so on, and so forth…
My friend bought a goat for poor families in third world countries instead of giving gifts to those people who already had “everything” and needed nothing.
Musmo..I do this every year..Either animals or plants. You can buy bee hives, goats, rabbits, ducks, geese, or go big for o xen and horses. Heifer International..And most can be had for 20 bucks or less..And they (Heifer) go first and teach animal husbandry, or crop rotation, then the people who receive the “gift” have to pay it forward in their community. Women are often the recipients in 3rd world countries, but there were American Indians who had a particular type sheep, and they were so inbred they were almost non-viable as a herd. Heifer found another herd in South America, and they swapped males around, and strengthened both herds. They do things for here in America also..and you can direct where the money and gifts go to. If you give in someone’s name, a card is sent describing what you sent to who, and what it means for that person/community
When I was a kid we got an allowance and I usually saved up the allowance from September through December to get gifts for the family. Sometimes I used the five bucks I got from my grandpa for Christmas to buy gifts for the rest of the family. Yeah in a way it was a “have to” since we all exchanged gifts so since they had a gift for me I needed to have one for them. But it was always fun.
I disagree that kids shouldn’t give something, otherwise they will think everything should only be for them. I am having my kids give small presents this year – a picture they have drawn for my husband and I (which is priceless to me), and I will help them get a small gift for their sibling. They are also excited about a gift that we’ve bought my mom, and we have bought toys and dropped them off for charity.
Meanwhile, my husband has 4 brothers and sisters, and we went to visit his family for Christmas right after we got married. We brought gifts for everyone and lugged them overseas. Meanwhile none of his grown siblings gave gifts for even their parents (although his sister gave a nice gift to her boyfriend). My husband chewed them out that they couldn’t even manage to get their parents’ gifts, and I thought it was sad that they were so self-centered as adults.
And if you feel that you shouldn’t have to give gifts, then don’t accept them either. I have a friend who does that, and I admire and respect her perserverence and faith.
@somebodyshort, that’s sweet. What a nice memory that is.
For many years my father was involved in an organization called Project Love. They provided Christmas gifts for the children at the Navajo and Hopi Indian reservation schools in Arizona. Each child would fill out a form (or the teacher would for the little ones) listing the 3 things they wanted the most. These forms would be distributed to people like my Dad and me (and literally hundreds of his friends) who would buy the gift, wrap it and return it to Project Love for sorting and transport to Arizona. Some of the kids listed toys, some listed school supplies and backpacks and some wanted clothes. I once bought a blanket for a little girl because that’s what she wanted. Some of the volunteers would visit each school to pass out the gifts to the kids. My Dad was one of the men who went to Arizona every year and it was one of the great passions of his life to communicate with and love these kids. He visited the schools last year, when he was 85. Dad’s place of work, McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing) in Long Beach provided warehouse space for storing and sorting of gifts and semi- trucks to transport them. The whole thing was a huge undertaking. We found out at his funeral last July that Dad FOUNDED the organization - he never told us that part of it. Sadly, Boeing has stopped sponsoring the warehouse space and trucks and another sponsor cannot be found, so Project Love died with my Dad. I still get calls from Dad’s friends who have spent the year buying gifts for the kids wanting to know where to send them, and I have to tell them it’s over. I can’t help thinking about the children who won’t get the Project Love parties and gifts this year.
JanCinVV–I hope you will try to enlist the aid of a church or civic organization to carry it off anyway. There’ s no reason it has to die if it can be replanted with someone else. I am sure that some one or more of the partners will step up if they know the need. My condolences on your loss.
That’s sounds like my dilemma. I feel I have to buy gifts for my family, whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, Valentines Day, Mother’s/Father’s day, because I don’t want to be known as the evil and selfish sister/daughter to everyone.
My friend bought a goat for poor families in third world countries instead of giving gifts to those people who already had “everything” and needed nothing.
I just started law school, so money’s really tight. I was worried that I couldn’t afford to give my family gifts for Christmas, and I told my mother so. She said “just come home. That’s enough for me.” I taught myself to knit and made everyone scarfs. I think mom will be pleased with both gifts :-)
You all are a bunch of Grinches! Not everyone is materialistic! Christmas is a great time to show others that you care for them. Not everyone buys a present with the idea of “what am I getting from this” in their mind. Some of them actually are thinking of how excited the person receiving the gift will be.
Its tradition starting w/ my mother and I to give ppl socks for christmas if you can’t afford anything else. I like to find cute novelty socks for female friends and good sturdy warm socks for the men. Everyone has always shown appreciation for them and it shows them I care.
@Susan001, along about now, every year I say to myself, “Thank God I’m not a Christian!” I feel bad about all the frenzy. And I vow to myself I will not set foot in any store until January, unless it’s absolutely necessary.
That said, I have noticed now and then the bright-eyed excitement of some small children. I think it’s for them.
@notinksanymore, I think you did good. And as a broke craftsperson myself, I know that needles and yarn cost money too, unless you get them very cheap like at the Sally Ann, or from a friend. And I think your momma will be very happy. And you know what? Don’t forget this: So will you.
In our household of 7 (all adults), half of us are unemployed and of those unemployed, only one is collecting benefits. With the economy as it is, we decided to just do stockings this year - whatever you give has to fit in one. This leads to being able to give stuff like a “service coupon book” where you write down acts of service you will do for someone and they can redeem it as they need the help. I am giving everyone those stretchy mittens you can get at the dollar store. They always need those as they wear out or are lost. The idea for this came from my son Jon who is employed and was concerned that his siblings would feel bad not being able to afford presents. Seeing that kind of compassion from him is a gift to me.
For you Jews and God haters Susan, Rina, etc…, who don’t celebrate Christmas anyway, why don’t you keep your misguided glee and hatred to yourselves? I’m sick of seeing you constantly categorize all of Christianity as “selfish, greedy and materialistic”. You have no idea what you’re talking about. You say how compassionate and caring you are all the time, but truly you show constantly that you are nothing more than, shrewish, hateful, and small minded biggots, who just hate Catholicism, and I’m sick of it. Shut up and go light your menorah and give out your cheap chocolate coins. It means even less to us than Christmas means to you, but we don’t bash you on a daily basis as you have done here repeatedly.
alondra almost 15 years ago
Be careful that you don’t eat everyone else’s share too Michael.
mroberts88 almost 15 years ago
He’s getting Christmas out early.
kozykitn27 almost 15 years ago
A child and a box of chocolates. Resistance is futile. Michael won’t be able to resist eating the rest of the candy. Sure it’s a sweet craving. But oh the guilt he will have afterwards, and maybe an upset stomach along with it.
aza721 almost 15 years ago
hahaha that’s so cute
DolphinGirl78 almost 15 years ago
@howtheduck: Love your comments! @Aza: it is cute… love the other kid’s expression!
masnadies almost 15 years ago
John is going to luck out because he is going to get at least one more round of car-or-house-cleaning help from his son to get some more cash!
We still say we “Have” to buy presents. Mostly we want to, but it’s funny how you get caught up in what you “should” buy. Everybody I know does. MIL is buying for well over 40 people. She loves them all, but wouldn’t it be great if we could “short” people we don’t see anything good for or just can’t afford sometimes, and not be guilted? Anyone but your own kids when small should be optional. But it’s not so. If we don’t get SIL another nutcracker she probably doesn’t want, she’ll be hurt. And so on, and so forth…
Ursula A Kehoe Premium Member almost 15 years ago
My friend bought a goat for poor families in third world countries instead of giving gifts to those people who already had “everything” and needed nothing.
eagleowl almost 15 years ago
Musmo..I do this every year..Either animals or plants. You can buy bee hives, goats, rabbits, ducks, geese, or go big for o xen and horses. Heifer International..And most can be had for 20 bucks or less..And they (Heifer) go first and teach animal husbandry, or crop rotation, then the people who receive the “gift” have to pay it forward in their community. Women are often the recipients in 3rd world countries, but there were American Indians who had a particular type sheep, and they were so inbred they were almost non-viable as a herd. Heifer found another herd in South America, and they swapped males around, and strengthened both herds. They do things for here in America also..and you can direct where the money and gifts go to. If you give in someone’s name, a card is sent describing what you sent to who, and what it means for that person/community
alondra almost 15 years ago
When I was a kid we got an allowance and I usually saved up the allowance from September through December to get gifts for the family. Sometimes I used the five bucks I got from my grandpa for Christmas to buy gifts for the rest of the family. Yeah in a way it was a “have to” since we all exchanged gifts so since they had a gift for me I needed to have one for them. But it was always fun.
lightenup Premium Member almost 15 years ago
I disagree that kids shouldn’t give something, otherwise they will think everything should only be for them. I am having my kids give small presents this year – a picture they have drawn for my husband and I (which is priceless to me), and I will help them get a small gift for their sibling. They are also excited about a gift that we’ve bought my mom, and we have bought toys and dropped them off for charity.
Meanwhile, my husband has 4 brothers and sisters, and we went to visit his family for Christmas right after we got married. We brought gifts for everyone and lugged them overseas. Meanwhile none of his grown siblings gave gifts for even their parents (although his sister gave a nice gift to her boyfriend). My husband chewed them out that they couldn’t even manage to get their parents’ gifts, and I thought it was sad that they were so self-centered as adults.
And if you feel that you shouldn’t have to give gifts, then don’t accept them either. I have a friend who does that, and I admire and respect her perserverence and faith.
@somebodyshort, that’s sweet. What a nice memory that is.
JanLC almost 15 years ago
For many years my father was involved in an organization called Project Love. They provided Christmas gifts for the children at the Navajo and Hopi Indian reservation schools in Arizona. Each child would fill out a form (or the teacher would for the little ones) listing the 3 things they wanted the most. These forms would be distributed to people like my Dad and me (and literally hundreds of his friends) who would buy the gift, wrap it and return it to Project Love for sorting and transport to Arizona. Some of the kids listed toys, some listed school supplies and backpacks and some wanted clothes. I once bought a blanket for a little girl because that’s what she wanted. Some of the volunteers would visit each school to pass out the gifts to the kids. My Dad was one of the men who went to Arizona every year and it was one of the great passions of his life to communicate with and love these kids. He visited the schools last year, when he was 85. Dad’s place of work, McDonnell Douglas (later Boeing) in Long Beach provided warehouse space for storing and sorting of gifts and semi- trucks to transport them. The whole thing was a huge undertaking. We found out at his funeral last July that Dad FOUNDED the organization - he never told us that part of it. Sadly, Boeing has stopped sponsoring the warehouse space and trucks and another sponsor cannot be found, so Project Love died with my Dad. I still get calls from Dad’s friends who have spent the year buying gifts for the kids wanting to know where to send them, and I have to tell them it’s over. I can’t help thinking about the children who won’t get the Project Love parties and gifts this year.
pibfan868 almost 15 years ago
JanCinVV–I hope you will try to enlist the aid of a church or civic organization to carry it off anyway. There’ s no reason it has to die if it can be replanted with someone else. I am sure that some one or more of the partners will step up if they know the need. My condolences on your loss.
bald almost 15 years ago
michael could have bought a bag of gum drops, given everyone 5 and have the rest for himself…..
richard0184 almost 15 years ago
That’s sounds like my dilemma. I feel I have to buy gifts for my family, whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, Valentines Day, Mother’s/Father’s day, because I don’t want to be known as the evil and selfish sister/daughter to everyone.
coffeeturtle almost 15 years ago
Musmo said, about 4 hours ago
My friend bought a goat for poor families in third world countries instead of giving gifts to those people who already had “everything” and needed nothing.
Much to be said about that. :)
notinksanymore almost 15 years ago
I just started law school, so money’s really tight. I was worried that I couldn’t afford to give my family gifts for Christmas, and I told my mother so. She said “just come home. That’s enough for me.” I taught myself to knit and made everyone scarfs. I think mom will be pleased with both gifts :-)
KimberlyT almost 15 years ago
You all are a bunch of Grinches! Not everyone is materialistic! Christmas is a great time to show others that you care for them. Not everyone buys a present with the idea of “what am I getting from this” in their mind. Some of them actually are thinking of how excited the person receiving the gift will be.
lorelei6361 almost 15 years ago
Its tradition starting w/ my mother and I to give ppl socks for christmas if you can’t afford anything else. I like to find cute novelty socks for female friends and good sturdy warm socks for the men. Everyone has always shown appreciation for them and it shows them I care.
RinaFarina almost 15 years ago
@Susan001, along about now, every year I say to myself, “Thank God I’m not a Christian!” I feel bad about all the frenzy. And I vow to myself I will not set foot in any store until January, unless it’s absolutely necessary.
That said, I have noticed now and then the bright-eyed excitement of some small children. I think it’s for them.
@notinksanymore, I think you did good. And as a broke craftsperson myself, I know that needles and yarn cost money too, unless you get them very cheap like at the Sally Ann, or from a friend. And I think your momma will be very happy. And you know what? Don’t forget this: So will you.
ponygirl95 almost 15 years ago
In our household of 7 (all adults), half of us are unemployed and of those unemployed, only one is collecting benefits. With the economy as it is, we decided to just do stockings this year - whatever you give has to fit in one. This leads to being able to give stuff like a “service coupon book” where you write down acts of service you will do for someone and they can redeem it as they need the help. I am giving everyone those stretchy mittens you can get at the dollar store. They always need those as they wear out or are lost. The idea for this came from my son Jon who is employed and was concerned that his siblings would feel bad not being able to afford presents. Seeing that kind of compassion from him is a gift to me.
mrslukeskywalker almost 15 years ago
For you Jews and God haters Susan, Rina, etc…, who don’t celebrate Christmas anyway, why don’t you keep your misguided glee and hatred to yourselves? I’m sick of seeing you constantly categorize all of Christianity as “selfish, greedy and materialistic”. You have no idea what you’re talking about. You say how compassionate and caring you are all the time, but truly you show constantly that you are nothing more than, shrewish, hateful, and small minded biggots, who just hate Catholicism, and I’m sick of it. Shut up and go light your menorah and give out your cheap chocolate coins. It means even less to us than Christmas means to you, but we don’t bash you on a daily basis as you have done here repeatedly.