Three Gifts at Christmas?

[kristen821]

That would bug me too, but I think it will backfire on them. What happens when he starts wondering why Grandma gave Ethan and Molly a present but not him.

That is what I was thinking too! I think he needs to know who to thank! When it is mom and dad not getting thanked that is one thing, but I don't think it is right to not thank other people for thier efforts.

 

[kristen821]

kristen821,

Very true, plus it's once a year. My mom makes the cookies, the fudge, etc and enjoys watching my dad, my brother and myself enjoy them. I'm sure were not the only family that does this.

Not anymore anyway!

 

[EthansMom]

Yup, I put labels "From: Ethan and Molly" for all of the cousins presents, and nephew7 can read this year, so he'll know for sure where the presents came from. I think the "everything comes from santa" started falling apart last year, though.

In our house, DS and DD each get one medium toy from Santa and then Santa REALLY stuffs the stockings (to overflowing).

A few more toys come from Mom and Dad and then reasonable presents from 3 sets of grandparents and an embarrassment of gifts from the another set of grandparents (in fact, the kids' Pop Pop even looks a bit like Santa) and our house is more than ridiculous with toys and wrapping paper.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

kristen821,

Exactly. Gift suggestions are one thing, but saying who the gift came from is something completely different.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We limit the gifts for our kids, and I ask my parents and the IL's not to get more than 5 for each child (not counting clothes) that are staying at my house. I don't care what they get for their house, but we only have so much room, and I don't want them to get into the "it's all about me and what I can get" mentality. My mom thinks I'm being terribly to my kids because they only have 6 things each under the tree this year at home (I don't bother putting clothes under there, they're too little). She actually said they were deprived. Needless to say, our Christmases when I was growing up were loaded with mountains and mountains of presents for each of us. It was fun and we loved it, but as we got older, we understood why the gas man and the electric company came to shut stuff off a month or so later.....that's not worth it at all.

I have a friend who limits hers to 3 gifts per child, because of the reason in the original post. I think it's whatever works for each family.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I think we all need to remember that there is no right way or wrong way to celebrate Christmas. Christmas isn't like a game that has instructions that you need to follow.

 

[Blondie]

This is a new one for me, I've never heard of people giving just 3 gifts before!

We have no limit in our house, and we didn't when I was growing up either.

 

[kbkids]

I think we all need to remember that there is no right way or wrong way to celebrate Christmas. Christmas isn't like a game that has instructions that you need to follow.

I agree! One day shouldn't be causing bills to not get paid later on. It's not all about how much you get, and those who choose to not buy alot should not be criticized, no matter what their reasoning is for it. Likewise, as long as you're not going broke, I see no problem with showering your kids with gifts if you're financially able to either. We're somewhere in the middle of that spectrum - there's plenty that's not going to being under the tree this year because we can't afford it, but I think they will be pleased with what they do have. But, even if someone has the money to do so and chooses not to, it's their money, their family, and they need to do what they feel is right for them. No one should dictate how your spend your Christmas!

 

[skiwee1]

When the kids are little I make most presents come from Santa. I put our names on a few but most come from the big man. I don't feel I need credit for the buying from the little ones. My older two know now where all those great gifts and hard work came from and that's all that matters. I just love the look in DD's eyes when she reads the tag and sees Santa really does exist! We are also great overgifters. Fortunately all our friends are the same way and don't leave any guilt trips on anyone.

 

[preb]

We do the three gifts from Santa (plus stockings), but additional gifts from DH and me. One thing I like about it is DD really has to think about what she wants to ask Santa for, and I know that those items are her "top 3". Some of my friends kids have these lists that are two pages long! How do they know what they really want?!?

 

[skiwee1]

We do the three gifts from Santa (plus stockings), but additional gifts from DH and me. One thing I like about it is DD really has to think about what she wants to ask Santa for, and I know that those items are her "top 3". Some of my friends kids have these lists that are two pages long! How do they know what they really want?!?

DD has a huge list every year. I spend way too much and usually buy it all! That way it doesn't matter what 3 things she wants most! LOL!

 

[MagicKingdom05]

When I was a kid, I had a large list aswell, but my mom would always tell me to number them in order.

It's kind of funny, because each year she says she is going to buy less and less, but that never seems to happen. She ends up seeing this or that in the store.

 

[Kirby]

Everyone has their own way of doing things at Christmas and their own traditions. Just like that other thread about gifts from Santa being wrapped vs. unwrapped. Santa's gift used to be unwrapped at our house but if someone wants to wrap theirs, that's okay.

My kids were only allowed to ask Santa for one gift at Christmas and fortunately for us, it was never something that was so popular that we couldn't find it. Then we kept our gift giving to the kids to five gifts a piece and still do now that they are older. Why five? Don't know but it seemed like a good number plus fit within our budget.

No one should be made to feel that they are doing things "wrong" at Christmas. If someone tries to make you feel that way then they are the ones that are "wrong" not you.

 

[MagicKingdom05]

Kirby,

That's what my mom now buys for my brother and I, 5 gifts each. It use to take us 3 hours to open gifts and what was in the stocking. We would start at 9 and not be done until after noonish and I am fine with that. When we were 7 or 8 then that's one thing because you had to get stuff from Santa and mom/dad but now that we are 32 and 36 there isn't that need for a ton of gifts.

Oh by the way, we still get a couple from Santa.

 

[kbkids]

Oh by the way, we still get a couple from Santa.

For years after "Santa" stopped coming, I would still get up on Christmas morning and glance under the tree, just hoping . . .

 

[MagicKingdom05]

kbkids,

I still believe in "Santa" so maybe that's why I keep getting gifts from him

 

[laurie31]

kristen821,

Very true, plus it's once a year. My mom makes the cookies, the fudge, etc and enjoys watching my dad, my brother and myself enjoy them. I'm sure were not the only family that does this.

Nope

We do it too! It was a REALLY big deal when I was a kid, as mom was the "no dessert until after dinner" and "only one cookie, maybe two" type, so for her to serve us cookies for breakfast was as magical as the presents!

In fact, now that I think about it, I only recall a few Christmas gifts that I got as a child, but I remember eating those cookies in my flannel pajamas sititng in Mom's or Dad's lap and enjoying being all together. (normally we got dressed for breakfast, so staying in the pj's all morning was a magical thing too )

Laurie

 

[kbkids]

kbkids,

I still believe in "Santa" so maybe that's why I keep getting gifts from him

OH!!! That's what I've been doing wrong!! Must work on that this year. Thanks for the tip!

 

[MagicKingdom05]

laurie31,

The reason I love Christmas so much are those little traditions that I know that happen on that one day each year. No matter what else is going on, I know that come Dec 25 I have something to really look forward to. Be it the Christmas cookies, or driving around looking at lights, or the hamloaf my mom only makes for Christmas, etc.

 

[casey49781]

i think christmas is a individual idea and no one should be putting anyone down for their beliefs,,,when we were kids our santa presents were not wrapped and alway put together if need be,,,,this is the first year i have one gift that needed to be put together and was not going to do it on christmas morning,since i am asingle mom,,,its a outside metal sand digger for my ds 5,,tons of bolts ,,,my dd 8 is getting a american girl doll and is wrapped so go figure,,,we have tons under our tree,,because i am the only one who buys for my kids,,,there father one thing ,,my gram gives them 10.00 ,,,there dads mom gives them 15.00,,and thats all the grandparents they have ,,no aunts /uncles buy,, our choice,, as a family,,,i do buy for my bothers ex girlfriend and son as they are not well off,,,my other brother has a great job and can afford there kids what they want,,,,however i went to diney last year and universal and bought them slime time live t shirts they loved them,,my daughter asked me this year how come i dont give them anything for christmas cause all tags have their name only no from filled in so this year it is filled in ,,,she is out smarting me,,,i love to hear family traditions so keep the post coming,,,,and happy holidays