My children are gifted. Frequently and generously every winter holiday season. I don’t hate it, but I’m not thrilled about it either. The thing is, even without their parents buying them a single Christmas gift, they would be spoiled with presents each year. They are lucky enough to have a big extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, great-aunts and great uncles who love them to the moon and back. All those loving people want to give something thoughtful and fun to my boys at Christmas time. I can not deny them the pleasure. It wouldn’t be right.
They get some really cool awesome toys and things. Like robot kits and giant Lego sets that we, their humble parents, could never afford. But we really don’t NEED any of these things. And it is SO much STUFF. I’m particularly sensitive about it because we live in such a small house. There is barely space enough to store all the toys they already have and now there are bags of new items just sitting in my living room waiting for me to find a place to store them. Oh yeah, it’s not just kid stuff. There is grown up stuff too, because we, the parents, are also quite gifted this time of year. It is a mixed bag. A few super sweet useful things and a bunch of stuff we did not need or want.
Of course I am thankful. Mostly I am grateful because our lives are blessed to be filled with loving family that care for us. The gifted nature of the holidays I could really take or leave. I have mixed feelings about receiving crap that I’m just going to donate to a charity thrift shop. It seems wasteful and over-consumptive. But there are those special gifts we’ve received that we use again and again for years afterwards that we wouldn’t have otherwise and I’m so appreciative of that. Like this cozy lap blanket/comforter that I’m attached to like a child with her blanky. Or a ceramic loaf pan which I never would have bought myself, but that I use all the time.
My gifted children didn’t need any more toys this year. They are 8 and 10 years old and they hardly play with toys anyway. They play outside biking, scootering, or playing ball. Or they read or draw or play video games. That takes up about 98% of their free time. Maybe even 99%. And then they play with toys last. But like I say, there is always 1 or 2 gifts in a year that are so cool, I can’t just diss the whole affair outright.
I just have to accept the fact. My children are very gifted.
My son always ends up playing with Legos!!
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I remember a little girl with over a hundred stuffed animals. I may have gotten her one.
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Reblogged this on The Honking Goose and commented:
Originally written in December 2014, this is still entirely true:
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I don’t know if you still get email from this account, but just wanted to say I hope everything is going OK! π
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It’s been almost six months since your last post–we’ve missed you! Hope all is well.
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Just read this. Great post and it is such an empowering state to be aware of one’s blessings.
What is it that has prevented you from blogging in recent times?
Shakti
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βTalk to me, Goose.β
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I see this is your last post lately. I hope all is well. π
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Oh I get it! My children also have so, so much… and they do play still, but they don’t need any more of anything truly. I am blessed, and we are lucky– but I would love instead to pass on to others. We do this time of year as we are working to simplify our possessions and to organize, but it is truly too much. We too live in a small home and I like for it to be open as much as possible for my own sanity and our family’s sanity. π I am happy to have found you, thank you for stopping by my blog. I am happy to have found yours, too.
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Happy New Year!
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That’s cool.
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I can remember a particular Christmas where we six lived in a 1700 ft house, and what it felt like to come home and find a space for all.that.stuff. O_O My kids are all still gifted, but I’m so glad it’s not like that anymore.
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I’m so glad that this isn’t a problem I have to deal with anymore. I mean I know everybody wants to do the right thing, and teach all the kids the right responsible lessons, but nobody wants to be the Grinch right? I know, we all go through it. It’s just that it’s your turn now. Lol.
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My son would receive 3 gifts from me while he was growing up. Two were practical and one fun one. My mom and stepfather would get one gift for him and so would my brother. My stepsister didn’t really like gift-giving so we all agreed on just cards for her. My stepbrother was having trouble accepting us as additions to his family so there wasn’t much communication back then. Christmas was more about the family sitting around the table getting fat and laughing back in the day.
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So glad to hear your kids play outside and have other leisure interests! I have three young nieces and rather than give them un-needed toys, I buy them swim lessons every summer! Saves my sister-in law over $100!
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Too much is always better than too little π
I think
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As of last year, i started gifting my 5 yr old niece experiences; instead of buying her a toy or something she might not even want or need, we take her for the day at some point and have a special experience with her. I brlieve as she grows up, she’ll remember more of our family outings than any toy i buy her. I have asked that my siblings do the same with my kids. As you said, kids dont even play with toys all that much.
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Maybe a 1 toy rule is in order. Especially as the boys get older and play with toys less and less. I haven’t bought my son a toy probably since he was 10. He gets video games every year though. Speaking of which, he is waiting for me to come play Smash Bros’ with him, I best be off. Happy New Year!!!
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Same here. I’m not a parent (I think I’m too young to be one) though I live in a small apartment and things are piling up!
Nice pun you did there, too. I thought you meant gifted as in advanced in education! π π
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I’m in the same boat looking for a home for a rubbermaid container of toys. I asked for specific toys this year so my non toy son got Lego and gaming stuff, gift cards, and a movie. His little brother got the cool toys like the Zoomer dinosaur, Spiderman, and a Vtech kids tablet. Suddenly my 8 year old gamer son became a toy kid as he played with that dinosaur more than my 3 year old. As a family we got a cool lava lamp, Christmas decorations, and wonderful books. From my in-laws, I got socks, custom made bowl holders (for the microwave) and a bracelet. Santa stuffs all the stockings and workout clothes and candy are always appreciated for myself. And for gaming entertainment we have an Xbox, table top foosball, and a protective case for the vulnerable Ipad. There was enough toys with wheels and electronics to keep my kids grateful and happy. Enough books and cozy socks to keep me giddy and happy. And clothes to keep us all covered and warm. Happy new years blessings from our home to yours. πππΆ
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Mine are too! It’s a good thing…most of the time. π
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Wanna trade places? I’m the only non-Jehovah’s Witness amongst my brothers and sister. Makes my shopping list real short, also means I didn’t get much for Christmas. A candle and a couple of Lottery scratch-off tickets from the next-door neighbor— that’s about it. JWs just don’t do the holidays— at all. So, no gift exchanges.
I belong to a more traditional church, I try to do Christmas– at least somewhat.
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Many big families move to a gifting system to that no person gets more than X number of gifts per year. It really cuts down on waste, makes people (esp. kids) more thoughtful and grateful, and makes the family time less a package opening and more a story-telling (I got you this because… or I’m so glad I got this because…). 2 per person is perfect for most families. Truly.
Can be random or rotated. Can be including all members who have the ability to make or buy gifts as soon as they are old enough to make or buy them.
Best to you!
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That would definitely work for my family!
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Normally, i prefer to buy my son more educational toys rather than for fun. But my husband has a different perspective and spoils him with some unnecessary toys. This really give me headache.
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Toys have their place, but it would be so much better to give kids useful items instead, especially as they get older. Maybe a combo like 75/25, toys to useful items. Some of the best gifts I have ever received are the ones that I’m still using.
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Switch that – 75/25: useful items to toys. I wasn’t paying attention to myself. π
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Excellent post. Mine are too. Luckily, mine are 14 and 17. There are no more toys. Just clothes. But they would be set from the family even if we, as parents, did not buy them a single item.
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