The Sucky Part of Christmas
Christmas and the preparation of Christmas definitely has its ups and downs. At only twelve, Skylar already pointed out (while putting UP the tree), "decorating for Christmas is so easy, but putting all this stuff away is not fun at all!" How right she is, I just try not to think about it until I need to, otherwise I wouldn't put one decoration out! Ok, well, maybe we would have a tree, but nothing else!
Then there are the presents and deciding what to get each and every person on your list. There is the balance between buying your kids too much and too little. There is the struggle between buying stuff just so there is something to open or buying the boring stuff the kids probably need. THEN there is the balance between what to buy for nieces and nephews, grandmas and grandpas and moms and dads.
Yesterday, Jim and I were wrapping gifts for family members so that I can send it all in the mail (hopefully today). As we wrapped each gift we assessed the quality of the gift, the dollar amount spent and how much each person would like the gift. We cut, folded and taped and wrote every one's names on the appropriate gift. As we did this Emersyn brought us her potty chair, I noticed it but didn't think anything about it. Then she brought out her beloved "Emersyn" step stool, then the her baby shampoo, then my candle holder...and then I figured it out.
She was bringing out stuff to be wrapped. She had no idea that what we were wrapping were gifts, she just knew that she was watching us put "our" stuff into paper, so she figured she would help. She didn't run and hide her stuffed animals and say "MINE!" she offered up her stuff. Now granted she also doesn't understand that the stuff that was being wrapped will never be seen again, but it was sweet and sent a message to me just the same.
While Jim and I were wrapping these same gifts, Cody wanted to know why we were scratching off the price tags. We then asked "why do you think we are doing it?" He said he didn't know and thought that it was dumb to scratch them off. UG! So we explained that if someone got him an XBox for $1 or an XBox for a million dollars, would it matter, it was still the same XBox? He said it would matter. Can you hear me beating my head against the wall?
Then there is Jim. Oh, my lovely, procrastinating husband. I have taken on the task of buying gifts for everyone on our list. He went with me to buy many of the items that we have so far and I consulted with him on the gift for his mother (while he sat next to me, picked the color and said, YES). We decided on it, bought it and sent it. Now he has decided that it is not the perfect gift. Can you hear my nails scratching down my face? As he explained to me yesterday that he now doesn't feel she will like it as much as he wants her to, I listened to what he had to say, got totally mad, and as of this morning have relinquished all gift duties for anyone that he is a blood relative of. That being said, I realize that shipping everything across country next year on Christmas Eve is going to cost me a fortune, but I don't care. As he says "[he's] been doing it without me for 39 years.." Have fun!
I am pretty sure this one will anger me for only the next three months. I honestly want to send each and every one of them a check for $300 each just so they call Jim and tell him that "he is the greatest uncle, son and brother in the whole world and they love love love this year's gift!!!" Can you see the daggers?
The thing is, it is HIS mom and I want to give him the opportunity to show her what HE feels is the perfect gift for her. It reminds me of visiting my dad when I was little...I wanted to visit my dad, and although I enjoyed spending time with my step-mom, I wanted to sit right next to my dad on the couch and never move. And these gifts for Jim's mom and family is the same, they don't want to know what I think they need, deserve, should have, etc. they want to see what JIM wants them to have. And now everyone has the opportunity to see that. Oh, there is that crooked, evil grin I knew I had.
I guess the problem is that I DO look at what I think everyone would want and need and really put my mind to it all. I really really try and pick good gifts and am not overly concerned with the price, I just want it to be good. I do think that across the family members we need to keep things fair but at the same time I do look at the individual, the gift and go from there. If I didn't care, everyone would get an American Express gift card and I'd call it a day. Good thing I am not in charge anymore.
I mean, I guess I am doing everyone a favor. His mom won't get anymore ok gifts from me, his nieces and nephews won't get what aunt Meredyth thinks is cool from that stupid store Ambercrombie and hey, it could be worse, I could put Emersyn in charge! She would send them all a used baby potty and a half empty bottle of Johnson's Baby Shampoo!?
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Then there are the presents and deciding what to get each and every person on your list. There is the balance between buying your kids too much and too little. There is the struggle between buying stuff just so there is something to open or buying the boring stuff the kids probably need. THEN there is the balance between what to buy for nieces and nephews, grandmas and grandpas and moms and dads.
Yesterday, Jim and I were wrapping gifts for family members so that I can send it all in the mail (hopefully today). As we wrapped each gift we assessed the quality of the gift, the dollar amount spent and how much each person would like the gift. We cut, folded and taped and wrote every one's names on the appropriate gift. As we did this Emersyn brought us her potty chair, I noticed it but didn't think anything about it. Then she brought out her beloved "Emersyn" step stool, then the her baby shampoo, then my candle holder...and then I figured it out.
She was bringing out stuff to be wrapped. She had no idea that what we were wrapping were gifts, she just knew that she was watching us put "our" stuff into paper, so she figured she would help. She didn't run and hide her stuffed animals and say "MINE!" she offered up her stuff. Now granted she also doesn't understand that the stuff that was being wrapped will never be seen again, but it was sweet and sent a message to me just the same.
While Jim and I were wrapping these same gifts, Cody wanted to know why we were scratching off the price tags. We then asked "why do you think we are doing it?" He said he didn't know and thought that it was dumb to scratch them off. UG! So we explained that if someone got him an XBox for $1 or an XBox for a million dollars, would it matter, it was still the same XBox? He said it would matter. Can you hear me beating my head against the wall?
Then there is Jim. Oh, my lovely, procrastinating husband. I have taken on the task of buying gifts for everyone on our list. He went with me to buy many of the items that we have so far and I consulted with him on the gift for his mother (while he sat next to me, picked the color and said, YES). We decided on it, bought it and sent it. Now he has decided that it is not the perfect gift. Can you hear my nails scratching down my face? As he explained to me yesterday that he now doesn't feel she will like it as much as he wants her to, I listened to what he had to say, got totally mad, and as of this morning have relinquished all gift duties for anyone that he is a blood relative of. That being said, I realize that shipping everything across country next year on Christmas Eve is going to cost me a fortune, but I don't care. As he says "[he's] been doing it without me for 39 years.." Have fun!
I am pretty sure this one will anger me for only the next three months. I honestly want to send each and every one of them a check for $300 each just so they call Jim and tell him that "he is the greatest uncle, son and brother in the whole world and they love love love this year's gift!!!" Can you see the daggers?
The thing is, it is HIS mom and I want to give him the opportunity to show her what HE feels is the perfect gift for her. It reminds me of visiting my dad when I was little...I wanted to visit my dad, and although I enjoyed spending time with my step-mom, I wanted to sit right next to my dad on the couch and never move. And these gifts for Jim's mom and family is the same, they don't want to know what I think they need, deserve, should have, etc. they want to see what JIM wants them to have. And now everyone has the opportunity to see that. Oh, there is that crooked, evil grin I knew I had.
I guess the problem is that I DO look at what I think everyone would want and need and really put my mind to it all. I really really try and pick good gifts and am not overly concerned with the price, I just want it to be good. I do think that across the family members we need to keep things fair but at the same time I do look at the individual, the gift and go from there. If I didn't care, everyone would get an American Express gift card and I'd call it a day. Good thing I am not in charge anymore.
I mean, I guess I am doing everyone a favor. His mom won't get anymore ok gifts from me, his nieces and nephews won't get what aunt Meredyth thinks is cool from that stupid store Ambercrombie and hey, it could be worse, I could put Emersyn in charge! She would send them all a used baby potty and a half empty bottle of Johnson's Baby Shampoo!?
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