Tis the season

[isaiahbrink]

Well, as we all know what time of year it is, Christmas is coming up soon, and I've noticed something that has gotten worse and worse and worse as time goes on. It seems that going over to one family member's house for Christmas day or eve, enjoying the time with our family is no longer in exsistance for many of us, and that doesn't sit right with me. We seem to be caught up in shopping and buying things for others and going to several people's house for the holiday, and our time is so divided between houses that we don't get to spend much quality time with them. I know I'm alone on the following, but this is the third straight year that I'm boycotting ALL retailers for Christmas. I don't expect or want anything from a store for Christmas. If you care, call me and have a genuine conversation with me, or if you dare, spend time with me. I think for the most part, that we have lost all idea of what the holiday is all about. Take a long hard look at what the holiday means to you. Are you more concerned about finding the right gift for somebody or are you looking forward to spending quality time with those you love? Just my 2 cents.

[imported_Jay Henley]

I hear ya and agree we go overboard with the gift giving....... just dont try to convince my mom and sister to cut back on the gifts. they love that stuff

[imported_xseption]

I agree with you, but I would still like to receive my gifts ...

[windrivermaiden]

I have been anti-commercial Christmas for years.

[isaiahbrink]

You know, as a child, gifts were great, I may be abnormal here, but I loved seeing my grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and the rest of my family, even though I saw them much more than I do now. Let me add this, most of you already got this, but this "I'm too busy" line may cut it sometimes, but on the holidays, it dosn't cut it in my book at all.

[FerrisPhoto]

I'm taking a pile of canned goods, blankets, and socks down to the homeless camp (tent city) in Ontario. I don't want much of anything either.

[windrivermaiden]

Isaiah...are you single...let me introduce you to my daughter...:w00t: You are a young man after my own heart.

Family and community are the heart of civilization, not money and wealth.

[Pattyhm73]

i agree, when i was a kid, all are family got together and i was happy playing w/my cousins, then we would open our gifts at midnite, n we were happy with what ever we got, now n days these kids want gifts that are over 100.00 bucks....my god, they are never happy with what u got em', very unappreciated kids are now

[windrivermaiden]

I wonder if the majority of kids really think this way or if it is the perception that we get from the media.

I wont lie and say I only loved the family togetherness as a kid, I know that many Christmases I was disappointed in what I got...socks and underwear...I mean, I was dang glad to get them, especially in Jr High when we had to start "dressing out" for Phys Ed.Nothing completes the humiliation of poverty like having ragged undies in Jr High. But I was unhappy that I didn't get the stuff I saw in the Sears catalogue or the things my classmates brought for show and tell in January.

But, I think people, Or I hope, that over all, most people still crave the human contact and, that family togetherness goes way further than presents.

[Killjoy]

When we wake up on Christmas morning, we will open a few gift here, and then go to my mothers house where we will be spending the whole day with family. My brother (who is single) will probably arrive last as usual.

At 43 years old, I still appreciate the socks and underwear that my mother buys for me every year. I'm not joking. I have always said that Christmas nowadays is strictly for Children and retailers. And that's a shame.

[windrivermaiden]

So... all that being said...what are we all doing to help take back Christmas?

I limit my gift giving to one thoughtful gift per person...max 50 bucks for each of my children, they have everything they need and under 10 bucks for friends...usually take them out for coffee or make them a little something.I will not go into debt to give gifts. I spend the season as much as possible with friends and family. My dinner table is a feast...but not so much that there are left overs to be thrown away. That means...not cooking a full turkey or ham and only one desert. Exes and inlaws are welcomed with open arms as long as they play nice.

Oh, how I wish I could go home for Christmas. I haven't been home for Christmas since college. Oh so long ago.

[JWright]

My parents are deceased, I never spend time with my brother, my wife's parents live on the east coast, her sister lives in Idaho and her brother is in China, so we don't have any real family commitments here. We get together with friends every Christmas Eve, but that's the extent of our Christmas. It's likely my wife will work on Christmas Day. She usually does, so others in her department can have the day off.

[isaiahbrink]

Originally Posted by pattyhm73

i agree, when i was a kid, all are family got together and i was happy playing w/my cousins, then we would open our gifts at midnite, n we were happy with what ever we got, now n days these kids want gifts that are over 100.00 bucks....my god, they are never happy with what u got em', very unappreciated kids are now

Yeah, kids are very unapprecative these days wanting gifts like that. Come on, in high school, I wanted something that cost over $100, like a new camera, so you know what I did? I got a job, and paid for it myself. Never asked my dad for one cent, just to hold on to the money until I had enough to buy it.

[isaiahbrink]

Originally Posted by windrivermaiden

So... all that being said...what are we all doing to help take back Christmas?

I limit my gift giving to one thoughtful gift per person...max 50 bucks for each of my children, they have everything they need and under 10 bucks for friends...usually take them out for coffee or make them a little something.I will not go into debt to give gifts. I spend the season as much as possible with friends and family. My dinner table is a feast...but not so much that there are left overs to be thrown away. That means...not cooking a full turkey or ham and only one desert. Exes and inlaws are welcomed with open arms as long as they play nice.

Oh, how I wish I could go home for Christmas. I haven't been home for Christmas since college. Oh so long ago.

You do better than most people on spending. Myself, I give people pictures of mine for Christmas, and to date, I haven't gotten a single coplaint and tons of compliments, and to think, that's an average of $5.25 plus tax per person.

[isaiahbrink]

Originally Posted by Killjoy

When we wake up on Christmas morning, we will open a few gift here, and then go to my mothers house where we will be spending the whole day with family. My brother (who is single) will probably arrive last as usual.

At 43 years old, I still appreciate the socks and underwear that my mother buys for me every year. I'm not joking. I have always said that Christmas nowadays is strictly for Children and retailers. And that's a shame.

You're so right about it being for retailers, I think that yes, for children too, but they've listened to the retailers and a lot of parents have allowed it to happen. That combined with the fact that kids these days don't appreciate a large gift when they get one.