tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post892898279229402935..comments2023-07-29T09:26:45.820-05:00Comments on Write About Here: Seasonal Angst Disorder Part 1cinnamon gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05363288586285868779noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-83145836487575248312007-11-28T14:37:00.000-05:002007-11-28T14:37:00.000-05:00I soooo wish I could talk my extended family into ...I soooo wish I could talk my extended family into just forgoing gifts. We have soooo much and it just seems like a sin to keep accumulating...Don Mills Divahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733674458423525738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-57579763324298771392007-11-28T07:42:00.000-05:002007-11-28T07:42:00.000-05:00and beck--great post, er, comment!LOLand beck--great post, er, comment!<BR/><BR/>LOLChristinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04662448292809451387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-87502068695928194122007-11-28T07:40:00.000-05:002007-11-28T07:40:00.000-05:00the only people who get me gifts now are my in-law...the only people who get me gifts now are my in-laws and my mom and those gifts very useful and utilitarian things. <BR/><BR/>we are give to heifer Int. this year. <BR/><BR/>and, for us, santa, just doesn't bring gifts he reminds us how to treat each other--with kindness, generosity,and respect.Christinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04662448292809451387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-75252454172501981952007-11-28T05:57:00.000-05:002007-11-28T05:57:00.000-05:00I'm doing much the same as Kgirl.I'm doing much the same as Kgirl.Run ANChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06088821030860597465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-57401995865882467642007-11-27T22:36:00.000-05:002007-11-27T22:36:00.000-05:00what a fabulous, inspirational post. this is what...what a fabulous, inspirational post. this is what i want M to learn, about the beauty of giving.<BR/><BR/>Help Lesotho. Am all over it.Girlplustwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07056576921114387218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-64742707307793615522007-11-27T21:25:00.000-05:002007-11-27T21:25:00.000-05:00Munchkin adores parades. All she ever says is 'mo...Munchkin adores parades. All she ever says is 'more?' when there's too much of a gap between the floats ...<BR/><BR/>I feel you on the gifts question: honestly, I hardly buy anything at all for anyone except Pynchon and Munchkin. I send cards full of news and love, and I bake cookies and I host boozy candlelit parties with Johnny Mathis crooning all day. But I try to make it clear I don't want stuff and I don't want to have to buy stuff for others. I'm not ungenerous! I'd just rather cook and eat and drink and laugh and ENJOY being with the people I care about, rather than spending all my time at the mall cursing and getting poor for crap.<BR/><BR/>As for Santa, I'm going to try to emulate Jenifer from Rosebud and Papoosie Girl. She seems so balanced! This year, Munchkin is still so small, it should be easy. She just loves the colours and lights and fun -- like me.Mimihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10812707312289852258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-37301889772121216382007-11-27T16:05:00.000-05:002007-11-27T16:05:00.000-05:00I would like to scrap the idea of giving to adults...I would like to scrap the idea of giving to adults in our family, too, but there's one person on each side -- my sister and my husband's sister -- who LOVE giving gifts, and so it would be Scrooge-like to deny them.<BR/><BR/>I think the trick is to really hold a person in your mind so that you can think of something that would make her life easier/happier -- something she might not buy for herself. You think of the thing (or service, or whatever) and THEN go shopping. Rather than standing in front of the store displays, wondering which bauble might make a person happy.Jennifer (ponderosa)https://www.blogger.com/profile/17712875613623664156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-75157830922884530332007-11-27T13:58:00.000-05:002007-11-27T13:58:00.000-05:00good on ya. we don't do much in the way of xmas gi...good on ya. we don't do much in the way of xmas gifts, and when we do, they are almost always homemade. last year everybody in the fam got a picture of my kid in a customized (by me) frame. this year? a picture of BOTH of my kids. ha!karengreenershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02488069680575426742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-1446062225586942322007-11-27T13:18:00.000-05:002007-11-27T13:18:00.000-05:00Awesome ideas. We do believe in Santa here, but h...Awesome ideas. We do believe in Santa here, but have worked very hard (and it can be really hard, as they get older) to keep it all about the magic and giving spirit rather than the gimme, gimme. I think it is possible to do both -- Santa and gifts and to "give back" -- with some effort. Choosing where to spend my dollars has become increasingly important for me and even with toys for the kids, I try to seek out places that use my money wisely. Happily, there are more and more of those places around lately. Yay, internet. And yay, you. Thanks for the new ideas.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08585572295277151602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-38767602815007454602007-11-27T13:11:00.000-05:002007-11-27T13:11:00.000-05:00Our compromise on the stuff issue of Christmas is ...Our compromise on the stuff issue of Christmas is to make up movie night in a box sets for our siblings and their families. A dvd (usually a classic from our childhoods), plus assorted junk food.<BR/><BR/>I don't want gifts either - because sadly things I need I just buy for myself. I'm very hard to buy for - so says my mother constantly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-75960080197852546632007-11-27T13:03:00.000-05:002007-11-27T13:03:00.000-05:00These are such thoughtful ideas, Cin.This is the h...These are such thoughtful ideas, Cin.<BR/><BR/>This is the hardest time to simplify, I think...but that sign irks me beyond my normal Scroogness.NotSoSagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04782162947524115936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-42331427405091254602007-11-27T11:04:00.000-05:002007-11-27T11:04:00.000-05:00Hm. My brother wanted to end the practice of excha...Hm. <BR/>My brother wanted to end the practice of exchanging gifts with the adults in our family this year. He mentioned the same things - everyone already has so much, clutter, the enviroment... but the whole idea made me feel sulky for WEEKS.<BR/><BR/>We're not poor - but with three kids, our money to spend on ourselves is nearly non-exsistant, and Christmas is one of the only times that my extremely spartan husband gets any of the things that he refuses to buy for himself. (like new winter boots, the cheap, cheap man.) So in his eagerness, he unwittingly cast a pall over our Christmas. Happily, his wife threw a big fit and so his plans were scrapped. So yeah - his intentions were good (and I respect them) but he DID come across as sort of Scrooge-like. <BR/><BR/>Each family is unique, of course, and it sounds like you know well what's right for yours - but I do think that there's a balance in gift giving, something between mindless extravagence and begrudging the generosity that comes with Christmas.<BR/><BR/>Wow, this sounds like a post. Maybe I DO have a post in me on this topic...Beckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13953517447164263617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-84878231991217663832007-11-27T08:44:00.000-05:002007-11-27T08:44:00.000-05:00I love all of these gift ideas. And I'm relishing ...I love all of these gift ideas. And I'm relishing that the boys still seem relatively uninterested in presents. They love the tree and the lights, but are not so much interested in wrapped boxes. It's nice, although I'm under no illusion that it will continue.Suzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14382885000205172615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-78467091585414812292007-11-26T23:07:00.000-05:002007-11-26T23:07:00.000-05:00This is an EXCELLENT list of ideas. Thanks for tha...This is an EXCELLENT list of ideas. Thanks for that Sin.Kylahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03311014761113076785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-79218158927131597042007-11-26T22:47:00.000-05:002007-11-26T22:47:00.000-05:00I've kind of lost my interest in gifts, too, which...I've kind of lost my interest in gifts, too, which makes me sad because I remember being a child and wondering HOW ONE EARTH my parents didn't seem to care about presents? I still get giddy about Christmas for the kids, but I've been thinking more and more about how to help others, and less about myself.Aliki2006https://www.blogger.com/profile/15763865834765963343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-51427512009391130442007-11-26T21:15:00.000-05:002007-11-26T21:15:00.000-05:00I think perhaps this is what Santa Claus is really...I think perhaps this is what Santa Claus is really supposed to be about. This is the Santa I want Miss M to know. <BR/><BR/>Next week, I need to fork over 10 to the day care so that they can take the kids to the mall to buy presents for their parents, likely from the dollar store. I'm already trying to think of a good work around for that one.Madhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13416585771017767796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31853698.post-56320701670246026342007-11-26T20:21:00.000-05:002007-11-26T20:21:00.000-05:00Tractors are always a hit. I didn't even consider ...Tractors are always a hit. I didn't even consider going to the parade so you are far less of a grinch than I.<BR/><BR/>I really like your gift ideas. I gave to the Stephen Lewis foundation and a local women's charity last year. That is my husband's gift to me. Really nothing makes me happier and like you we really do not need more stuff. My girl is three and our home is filled with cheap toys from China. The madness has to end!moplanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16998309937928231527noreply@blogger.com