Well, the stress is high and the funds are low. That's my story, and most others out there this Christmas. Although, I do have to say, I have spent waaaaaaay to much money this year. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so I have a tendency to splurge even when there isn't enough to go around. My children don't really understand, however. They just seem to think that the presents come because they come. And there is no questioning that fact. I love giving them gifts, but at the same time I want to instill a sense of gratitude into them. In order to do just that, I tried to explain Toys for Tots to my daughter.
"So, we give toys to all the boys and girls who might not get any otherwise." Mom
"They might not get toys? Were they bad?" Daughter
"No, not bad. Santa just doesn't always have enough to go around." Mom
Do you see where this conversation is going? How do we teach our kids that they should be grateful for their gifts and that Santa is real? Because if Santa is real, then he should bring EVERY child a present who was good. And if that kid isn't getting a present, isn't it because he or she was bad? And if they weren't bad, why isn't Santa bringing them a present? It's very circular.
In the end I just stopped trying to explain it. I mean, in a 4 year old's mind, the whole world still revolves around them. So why bother trying to convince her that it doesn't? She'll learn, and we'll still do the donations to Goodwill and Toys for Tots. When she's big enough she'll be helping me volunteer at the soup kitchen. Until then, we'll work on gratitude in different ways. Like those trips to the McNasty's playplace. Those are terms that she understands.
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