My kids are getting older. I am down to one child that still believes in Santa. Sort of.
Or do I need to remind you of the church people that made my daughter question Santa Claus?
While it pains me to think that the childlike wonder of Christmas is almost gone from our home, part of me is ready.
Because, that whole job of coming up with new! fun! gift ideas for three teenagers and a nine-year old?
You know, those darn kids that have everything?
It’s HARD, dude.
Up until last Christmas, ALL of the gifts under the tree for the kids were from Santa. We didn’t have anything say it was from US. Then my youngest got all smart and started wondering why Santa brought so much, yet Mom and Dad can’t pony up the dough and get anything for the kids for Christmas?
Good point, oh wise one.
Last Christmas, we took a different approach. Three kids knowing the real deal about the fat guy in the red suit, and one still holding on to the hope that he is all sorts of REAL. So we decided that from now on, Santa would bring the ‘fun’ gifts, and Mom and Dad could give the ’boring stuff’– you know, the clothes, shoes, pajamas. All worked well, and the magic of Santa was safe for another year.
This year, I’m being forced to try another option.
Obviously, the older the kids get, the more expensive the gifts become. Dolls and Barbies are being replaced by laptop computers, iPod Touches and $100 hair straighteners from the metrosexual foreign-accent-speaking gentleman at the mall kiosk, because he is teh awesome at doing my kids’ hair and giving me a killer sales pitch.
Higher priced items also make it harder and harder for me to spend the same amount on each kid. Oh, how I miss those first few Christmases where I could buy a See n’ Say and some blocks, and they would be happy.
Before you all lecture me on how I spend too much money on my kids for Christmas, I KNOW. Trust me, I KNOW. I will mention to you that while we do spend a lot of money on our kids, we also make sure we give back to those less fortunate. We adopt a family every Christmas, and lavish them with presents– toys, clothes and grocery store gift cards. We also donate toys to Toys for Tots and are fully willing to contribute our time and/or money to any cause necessary to make sure all kids have a good Christmas.
Another reason we spend so much money on our kids… well, its simply because we CAN. We have no debt (thanks DAVE!), our house is paid for (again, thanks DAVE!). So we have the money to buy our kids not only the things they need, but also the things they WANT.
BUT, I also have learned my lesson. Every Christmas morning, after the gifts are opened, I can point out a dozen things that weren’t ‘hits’ among my kids. Things I bought just because it was on sale, or things I bought for all three girls, when only one really asked for it. Things I thought they would love, when in fact it was just meh.
So here I sit on November 6th. Forty-nine days until Christmas, and I have not bought one single gift. Three of the four kids have given me an idea of what they want. My oldest, the 14.5-year-old stepson that doesn’t tend to get too excited about anything can’t think of a single thing he wants.
Not only do I shop for my kids, but there’s our parents, too. Nieces and nephews. Teachers’ gifts. Our adopted family, the toys to donate. There’s the wrapping, the tags, and making sure the gifts that need to be shipped get shipped. Decorations to put up, baking and cooking to do.
And then there’s remembering what Christmas is all about.
Because sometimes I let that get lost in the shuffle.
