Bah Humbug! No More Big Presents!
From my experience, all Christmas presents should be no bigger than a shoe box. Period.
Now before you think I some kind of Christmas scrooge, let me say that I really love Christmas, but every year it goes like this: We bundle up our little tots and stuff them into our oh-so-cool minivan to cart them to Grandma’s house. There, they load up on sugar and beverages (not the best combination) and open so many huge presents that their heads are about to explode. Somehow, even though we have instituted the gift exchange rule, it never seems to work. There are weird exclusions for the youngest members of the family and they get way more than their share of the loot.
Then it’s time to go and we have to try and figure out how to fit ten pounds of potatoes in a five pound sack in order to make it back home. The kids are so overwhelmed with stuff and they really would be just as happy with one or two special gifts.
Now I know that there is no way I am going to convince all the doting grandmas and aunts of the world not to buy gifts for their special little ones, so I beg you, stick with the shoe box rule. I have no more room for giant castles, enormous plastic furniture, or life-size anything. Please.
2 Responses to “Bah Humbug! No More Big Presents!”
By Shell on Jan 1, 2008 | Reply
Joyce,
Another wonderful and logical post. My kids are past this stage and electronic gifts and money are the usual fare. But I remember all the toys we had to find room for, at least until mid-January when they tired of them. Gift cards are a great gift and can be used throughout the year, for a Christmas gift that keep on giving.
By Joyce on Jan 3, 2008 | Reply
How true. I just bought my twenty-something niece a present, but made sure I included the gift slip “just in case”. It turned out that when she tried to return it, it was still a hassle. Next time, I’ll skip the middle step and just send a gift card, or good ole fashioned cash. That works too.
But I can’t help thinking that we are missing the point of gift giving altogether.