I just finished wrapping the last of the Christmas presents! But now I’m sitting, looking at the presents under the tree from across the room. I am torn – is it too many presents? Is it not enough? Does it really even matter?
I go through this debate every year. I vow to buy less presents for the kids. I try to refrain, but then about a week or two before Christmas I worry that I didn’t get enough and want to buy more. I want to spoil my kids. But, I don’t want to spoil my kids. Wait, I do want to spoil my kids. I feel like I’ve lost my mind trying to figure out what I want to do.
I know logically that it doesn’t matter how many presents my kids receive. It’s the joys of the day, being together, and celebrating as a family that is important. But the mom in me wants to give my kids everything in the world. But then the other part of me doesn’t want to overly spoil my kids or to make them materialistic. This internal battle does me in every year.
We do strive to teach our kids about giving and supporting those less fortunate. I bring them with me to donate items every year, and we have the kids shop for their siblings to learn the joy of giving. The kids love to buy items for others and don’t expect anything in return. So its not all about receiving. They don’t seem to care if they get two or twenty presents, but I care. I just can’t help but wonder the balance of presents ever year.
So here I sit, looking at the pile of presents, trying to decide the right balance. The pile looks huge! But then I have to remind myself I have four kids. There are presents from us and their grandparents under the tree. I think this year I actually have been more conservative than years past. I tried very hard to buy presents because they would love the item, not because I think they need one more present under the tree. I have tried to cut back on the number of toys since they already have more than they play with, and instead give a variety of items.
Each kid this year is getting 13 presents from us – ironic number for sure. One present is a big one. Two are clothes; one is a stuffed animal (angry birds, webkinz, etc). The rest are toys, games, books, etc. On top of that they will be getting presents from three sets of grandparents and a small present from each of their siblings. I think they will be happy.
So now I ask you – how many presents? What is too much, what is too little? Does it even matter? Am I the only parent who ponders this? What is normal in your house? I’m dying to know!
It is hard to manage it isn’t it! I try to limit my kids presents to 3 or 4 each, but I will wrap stuff together to get it to that number. Like a whole bunch of books wrapped as one package. And we never give clothes as Christmas presents. We make our kids open the presents one at time while we all watch, so with 13 presents for each kid we’d probably still be open presents at noon!
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I feel the same level of anxiety when it comes to the last days before Christmas! I ask myself if I got enough, and I always feel like the answer is no, and that I need to go out and get more. More presents does not mean we love someone more! Giving a few really good gifts for others is what I think is best.
I think many of us join you and we all want the same thing, to see the joy on our childrens face Christmas morning when they see Santa has arrived. I have one grandson that is an only child and he has quite a few gifts as well. Partly because my daughter feels bad he has nobody else and she enjoys spoiling him. I know it is my biggest job knowing and seeing how excited the kids get this time of year! Looks like they will have an awesome Christmas….Good Job Momma!
I always get nervous about if I got enough for everyone or not.
I think every parent goes through this each year. We all want to give our kids “everything”. I have to say it get’s a lot easier as they get older. They ask for better quality gifts and less of them.
This is my first Christmas with a child so we were trying to set up some traditions to limit the consumerism. We decided to only buy 4 gifts for him: one to wear, one he needs, one to read, one he wants. We came up with 4 gifts that his 9 month old self will probably enjoy. My parents and in-laws were a bit of a problem, though. My dad visited and bought him the gifts: 3 toys (one worth fifty dollars) and clothes. My mom has sent wrapped gifts. There are a lot of them and I’m not sure what they are. My in-laws sent 2 huge boxes of junk. Literately, useless crap. As in, they sent us jean pants for him to wear. We live in Hawaii. It never gets below eighty degrees. He’s not going to wear jean pants. But they sent us 10 pairs of them. I wish they had all sent us one toy, one outfit, and money to buy diapers or food for him to eat, but that’s not how it worked out
I should be grateful that he has grandparents, but they aren’t the ones who have to clean up the massive amount of toys he is collecting and their extravagance makes me feel bad that we can’t afford/dont want to spend money on more Christmas gifts.
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wow 13 I only have 6 for each of my two kids. They get 5 more from grandparents and my siblings so I guess 11 total
I go through the same struggle every year! The difference is that my kids are older. The oldest will be 27 next week and the baby is 22. They’re both still single, and both able to come home to us for the week of Christmas! This is probably the last year that we’ll have the piles and stacks under the tree, for next year they’ll both have jobs and lives and obligations. So for now? I say that what’s under the tree is just right. Just let go of the struggle and remember that you’re building traditions and memories and they’re built on smiles and happy faces! Merry Christmas!