The recession has traveled to the North Pole...

[luvsJack]

First off, don't worry too much about it being a lean year and your son's belief. No reason to "spill the beans". Take a good look at his list. Some things you may can buy second hand within your budget. Gaming systems for instance are always being sold by individuals during Christmas time. I have also found that my kids always had several inexpensive things on their list, little things that I wouldn't really buy throughout the year. (with dd its little junky jewelery. I buy it and then wrap each piece in a nice little box so it seems like more than it is). The best gift isn't always the most expesnive or the biggest. Also, look over his list; figure out what your budget can do and just tell him that "Santa said we need to stick to X# of gifts this year" or however you want to spilt it. Then you will know that you will be getting him the things he REALLY wants. I also, like to add in a meaningful gift for each of my kids and dh--like a framed picture of their grandfather the year he died, or one year I framed my older son's baseball jersey with pictures and memorablia from the state tournament they won) Things that don't cost a lot but are meaningful to the person--those are usually the favorite gifts.

I agree that you should use this year to teach about the true meaning of Christmas, but you don't have to discuss Santa being a myth or being real. I don't get why that "talk" is so important to some??

We have always gotten a name from the Angle Tree. I didn't discuss Santa bringing or not bringing them gifts. I made sure we got at least one name off the tree in our lean years, I wanted them to understand that we may not have a lot but there were others less fortunate.

Additionally, I have made it important for us to attend all Christmas programs and services at church, be a part of that community. And we go see lots and lots of Christmas lights, hear Christmas music and other things that are free. And of course, we do lots of decorating and cookie baking. Last year we had a ball stringing popcorn and watching Christmas Vacation! Just making it a time to be with family and do family things.

 

[SnowWtch]

Funny, but the lean years are the presents I remember the most. I remember many Avon Christmas times. My mom was friends with the Avon lady and she let her pay in installments so we got a lot of little things from Avon instead of a lot of big presents. I still miss those nail decals and matching polish I'd get. It would take me hours to do up my nails like little presents but it's something I remember well.

 

[Karenj2]

This will be my baby's first Christmas, but I want to start the tradition that I heard/read about (here, perhaps?)...

What I heard was that Santa brings one gift, and that the parents buy three (to represent the three Wise Men). That's plenty, considering that all of her aunts, uncles and grandparents will be buying (and over buying) for her...

 

[timzagain]

OP--we have had a few of those very lean Christmases. I agree with others that it is mostly in your attitude and the kids will follow your lead.
You and they will be fine--and I hope your DH finds work soon; I know it is very stressful searching.



I thought I was the only person who did that. DS had Poptarts once when friends vacationed with us and had them and he fell in love. I won't buy them, but Santa has brought a few boxes of the years.

Thanks for the Pop Tart idea - I don't buy them either, but DD12 has tried and loves them. I will slip some in her stocking.

 

[Motherofboys]

Growing up, all Christmases meant Dad out of work. Living in a Northern state and having a Dad in construction meant a lay-off yearly. My parents had a rule that each of us had to make at least one gift for someone else in the family each year. I now recognize they'd coordinate it so each person was covered. They'd help us...I remember the year we made dresser boxes, a year with embroidered tea towels, even the year my hope chest showed up...funny, don't remember many of the "toys" from the store. As I got older, it was the "homemade" gifts I looked forward to most. The small "store" budget usually went to something we could use together as a family...a new sled, board games...even a colecovision one year [still not sure how they pulled that one off!] Kids adapt and will accept what you treat as normal. If you approach Christmas as a hardship and that its "lacking" so will they. If you are positive and approach it as an opportunity to get back to the point of the holiday, they may grumble a bit, but it will have meaning and who knows, you may decide that the more toned down Christmas is the way to go every year. Goodness, I'm not that old but still remember that "treats" were really confined to Christmas and Birthdays. We lived for Easter and Halloween as that was the only time we really got candy. Seems like now, any old trip to Target is cause for a new toy, or a treat or something no wonder there is all kinds of pressure to up the ante to make the holiday "special," Best of luck to you....

ITA, this is something we are working hard to change with our family - but it's not easy. Our kids have been so used to get something each and every time they step foot into a store! Treats, candy, toys - what's special about something you get all the time? So then we have to get bigger, better, more expensive at the holidays to make it special

Anyway, another thing we have done for our kids that my mom started with me and my siblings is to do a name draw (since we have more than 2 kids) for each other. They each get $5-$10 to go shopping for their sibling to pick out a gift. Then we bring them home and have the wrap it (helping the little ones of course).

We have found that they love the experience of shopping, picking out something special for their brother (even if it is small), and watching them open it. They love seeing the reactions, keeping the secret, "paying" for it themselves.

Giving is important too, not just receiving. It is a small way to help them be part of the Christmas giving and to take a little of the focus off of "what I am getting"

The kids absolutely love it!

Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas, it is truly the little things that matter most and are what they will remember!

 

[RF536]

I was unemployed for 2 years and just a few months ago finaly found a job, so for the past couple of years things have been tight in our house at Christmas. We have made gifts for the grandparents from the boys, such as a decorated picture frame, a sign to put in front of the trailer when they camp. Santa has also started bringing a lot of homemade gift certificates, they are normally something we were planning to do buy or do anyways, such as a family membership to the zoo, a camping trip during the summer, anything fun and family related is fair game. My boys are now 8 and 10 and they love seeing what fun activites Santa has planned for them for the year.

They also donate old toys to a local shelter and they also pick out a toy to give to Toys for Tots.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

Thanks, guys! This has been a REALLY rough year for us - medically, financially and personally, with family issues. I never really go crazy for gifts, but it is most certainly more than they will get this year.

I know they have so much more than others, and so do they. We do ALWAYS do angel gifts - even last year, when we were in the midst of unemployment ourselves, and I was terrified. I love all the ideas here. I do make a TON of gifts for others...but buy for my own kids. Why is that, I wonder??

 

[holden]

Our DD7 doesn't really play with toys. She'll see commercials and ask for things, but when she receives a toy as a gift (for a birthday, for examle), she really doesn't play with it much at all.

She really enjoys "experiences" more than presents. Going to see a show (Broadway or Disney on Ice), driving around to see Christmas lights, going on a nautre walk in a park...these are the things she really loves. She also likes to receive crafty/art things. Even a new box of crayons is exciting!

Maybe you could include an "experience" as a gift (tuck a note in a box and wrap it). It could be something far enough in the future that you can budget for or something that is free or very inexpensive.

Focus on your family and spending time together. That's what kids really want deep down anyway.