For NikkiZ’s birthday last month, we used all of the birthday budget money for her party and her new big-girl car seat. We didn’t really buy her any presents because, well, why should we? We knew she’d get tons at her party and since she is my second child, I am well aware that with all of her rockin’ new toys, some days she’ll just play with a box of band-aids for hours on end.
(Yes. She did that this weekend.)
Christmas is coming up and I’m kinda thinking the same thing. MrZ and LilZ, of course, are just the opposite. They are seeing commercials on TV and seeing things in the store they want to buy her. We are going to get her another big-girl car-seat for MrZ’s car, and then some small things for sure, but if I’m in charge - that will be the end of it. She doesn’t really need anything, and it seems silly to buy a bunch of stuff when she already has a bunch of stuff to play with and sometimes she acts like none of it’s there. And I know she’ll get stuff from everyone else, and she’ll totally get into helping everyone else open presents…she won’t care what’s inside.
I’m being a Grinch, aren’t I? Is the buying of presents at this age more for the family than for the kid? Should I send MrZ and LilZ out shopping for her and just let them enjoy that part (because I don’t) while I sit at home and nap?
Wait. That’s an awesome idea! Never mind…there’s my solution right there. Dude. I’m a genius.
AWESOME idea! I jsut floated the idea to the husb about buying our little Girl! a big-girl car-seat for X-mas, and telling family which toys she’d like, so we cpould avoid that expense. he got all fajibbity, and was all “but, but - it’s her first Christmas - she has to have toys from us! It will ruin the holiday for her” right, because a four month old will totally remember that all her parents ever got her for her first holiday here on Earth was a car-seat, and she will resent us forever because of it…
We didn’t get Fuller anything for his first Christmas. In fact, we stuffed his stocking with items that he already owned. Like he would know the difference.
Last year, for his second Christmas, we did buy him some things, but the whole time we were like, I don’t think this is really necessary. The other family members will totally spoil him, so why should we? Plus his birthday was in October, so he just got a bunch of stuff then.
I like your idea, you are a genius.
As you know, you have YEARS of holiday overindulgence ahead of you - why go there now?
Or, you could get her something that she can’t appreciate now, but will later. I am getting my best friend’s infant daughter a NICE christmas ornament and a big ornamnet box - and I will add an ornament every year so that by the time she’s on her own and gets her first tree, she’ll have a collection ready and waiting. And, oh yeah, a book, cuz I’m a librarian.
Don’t go so crazy just yet. You have many years left to spoil her - when she can actually appreciate it. We usually tell everyone that the girls would like money for their college education. Although it is a boring gift they will appreciate it later on and it won’t get stuffed in their closet (or mine) and lost forever.
I agree with the masses, you have a ton of Christmas’ to spoil her.
If MrZ and LilZ are set on shopping for her, give them a spending limit and send them out shopping all on their own.
Yep, I agree. I don’t think you’re being a grinch. I love, love, love Christmas! I agree with the post above about the ornament collection. My mom did that for me and my sister. She would get us a new ornament each year and she would write the year on it. I still have all of them.
She also saved all of the ornaments and crafts that we made. I still have the paper ornaments that I made in pre-k out of paper, glue and glitter. We made ornaments out of dough when I was around 4. Still have it! It still goes on the tree every year! I have one made out of a mason jar lid.
These are the things that only Mom can do that make Christmas special. Don’t let the rest of the world guilt you into keeping up with Joneses!
We are wrapping up my oldest daughter’s stuff for my almost one year old. She will never know the difference!
Christmas is so much about giving for some of us. It’s so fun to shop for others and then see them open it. I understand where Lil and Mr are coming from wanting to buy her stuff.
It’s fun for them!