Thank you all for your comments on my Christmas post. Those who haven't commented that wish to weigh in still please feel free, I'm still open to your ideas and suggestions.
In the past most of everything I've bought has come from Santa, unwrapped but all set out together with their stocking. Last year we actually set up the train set for Ian. This year I was hoping to simplify and have more of what I've planned on be from "mom and dad" and less of it be from Santa. I was sort of thinking that something big from Santa can be unwrapped and have another gift be wrapped, and of course of few things in the stocking.
I'm with you Angie, how do you get your kids to ask for what you buy? Alyssa and I had a talk several weeks ago about getting rid of a bigger item in her room that she has outgrown in order to make room for a small art table/desk from Santa. She is quite a little artist and can spend quite a bit of her free time drawing and painting. She was thrilled with the idea. So I thought we were set.
I bought a little table and chairs from Ikea and a little lamp to go with it. I also bought a 200 piece deluxe Crayola art kit thinking this would be a great little "art center" for her in her room.
Today on the way home from church I suggested we write Santa a letter and ask him for one item. She went nuts. "Only one thing!?" Geez, it's not like I've ever gotten her much more than that in the past. I explained that she will receive other gifts from her parents and she can tell me a few things she wants. She was still unsure about it and then told me the thing she wants to ask Santa for is a dress up dress that looks like the one from the movie "Enchanted". WHAT!? I thought we agreed on an art table which I've already bought. Not to mention, even if I hadn't bought that already I'm not too keen on getting MORE dress ups. We already have tons of them and I think she would get way more use out of the little art table. Seriously, she has a Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella, and then six other dress-up dresses from those Costco dress-up chests from past Christmases. Does she really need another? I was pretty hesitant to give her more of them last year and did anyway, I don't want more this year.
I don't know what to do. It isn't even December yet and already I'm dreading the whole Santa/presents thing because I feel like she just wants stuff. If we are going to spend our hard earned money on toys and stuff (from us and from Santa), I want it to be things that I feel are a good value for our money and not more of what we already have. I love giving people gifts, but I feel like this just isn't going how I want. Any suggestions?
2 comments:
Honestly, I wouldn't stress too much. Kids change their mind everyday. I've had my boys want things so bad and then when they see what I actually get for them they've totally forgoten about what they thought they wanted. And, if that doesn't work, I had to tell Kade once that Santa sometimes knows better than we do and gets us what he knows will be very best for us. He totally went for it. Good luck!
Don't stress. Maybe when you write your letter to Santa, have her ask for a few different things. But talk about how Santa likes to have a few ideas, but ultimately will pick the idea he thinks is best for you that his elves can make, and that Santa does not bring everything you ask for. That way, she can ask for things she wants and you can get the art desk in there that you've already bought! Hope it helps!
Post a Comment