Hot Wheels were my life for many, many years in my pre-teen youth. You're welcome to come spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas with my new extended family. It's an interesting cast of characters. Being able to spend the last several Christmases and Thanksgivings with them is one of the things that has rekindled (or reallly "kindled" in my case) my love for the holiday season. Even though I grew up a couple of decades later than you, my youth was similar to that. I think parent's zealous concern about safety has hampered it significantly. After Adam Walsh, it all started going downhill. Of course, I see the kids in my neighborhood hanging around unsupervised all the time. I watched them destroy a Port-A-Potty just the other day, as a matter of fact. I don't know what makes this neighborhood different because I rarely see kids running around unsupervised in any of the other places I've lived over the last 10-15 years.
Even if your kids dont see what you do for them, it is nice going above and beyond their small expectiations to make a great Christmas for them. They know nothing of your medical bills or the worries that big people have. They just know that it is Christmas time, and one morning their faces will light up when they see the presents underneath the tree. I mean you do what you will with your money and your kids. I never understood the stuff my dad did for us during times that money was tight. I had no idea, I was just 6. But he worked the day of Christmas on a contract job to make sure that my sister and I would get stuff on Christmas. I didn't appreciate it then but I appreciate it now. I don't like the commercialization of Christmas, but I do love seeing how happy it makes children.
I also suggest get a bunch of small gifts. It'll be fun unwrapping all that stuff. Or you could always get the Dan Akroyd special Bag o Glass
What a bunch of cry baby whiney asses...Depending on your income level, yes, you should use good judgement...However, this is a time for giving...Wives/GF's etc. always over do it as they are more apt to spend that extra money to make someone's happy for one day of the year...Don't get in a fight because of it as you will be remembered for being a cheap ass and this will be brought up in future fights... When I was young, we were happy to get a couple of things, but its because my parents managed my expectations...We didn't have a lot of money and I was happy to get whatever I got...Now that I have kids, and I make a good living, I may spoil my kids, but I don't get them everything they want...There's no lesson learned there and they won't learn the value of a dollar... I love x-mas, well, the holidays in general...To me it represents family and is a time to reflect on the past year and be thankful for our health and all the blessing in our lives... X-mas is commercialized, but what holiday/event isn't...It's the day and age we live in...I'm not saying get in debt and buy a 360 or PS3...You all know your kids/family better than anyone else and you know if they'll be happy with a small gift or not... Always remember, it's better to give than to receive...
My favorite toy after all these years was the ultimate bouncing ball you get in those quarter toy machines these days.
but shouldn't every day be a time for giving? maybe people would be happier and more content if we didn't wait for a "special" day to give.
Exactly, macalu. And why does "giving" entail materialistic things? Why can't someone give of themselves to another person who needs them? If I need something fixed, I know I can call on my father-in-law to help me. I don't need a gift or present from him; he gives me a gift every time he takes time out of his life to help my family out. To me, that is GIVING.
The biggest problem to me seems to be....what do you buy someone that has everything?!?! This year my gf and I have decided to chip in with her mother to adopt a family. It makes things easier on us, and you're helping someone more in need. Sure we all want gifts, but knowing how much you helped a family is well worth the pleasure you may give up. Pugs
My favorite part about christmas is when i go to the mall and park really close, then flip the switch that turns my reverse lights on, then go in and shop, its great watching lines of cars waiting for someone to back out when there is no one there. I need to wire my new car to that.
Is this an aftermarket extension on your car? And what purpose does it serve in normal driving conditions? Just wondering?
i hear ya. people ask me what my kids want for christmas. man, my kids have so much stuff it's ridiculous. we would throw happy meal toys that kids elsewhere would love to have. when you sorta wake up to an awareness of how much we have relative to the rest of the world, it changes the way you view all of this. my parents do over the top christmas gift stuff. that's not my thing. we will definitely provide toys and gifts for our kids...but nothing too crazy. i'm much more concerned that they learn why i think the day is special than why capitalism thinks the day is special.
I also use to get only one present for XMAS and I was also fine with that. I mean, thats all we needed. I knew my parents weren't the richest folks so I never bothered asking for everything in the world like my other friends would. To be honest, I would even lie and say I got lots of presents because I felt left out whenever people said their long list of gifts while I really had just one. I didn't mind, all I wanted was a new SNES game and I was good to go.
Agreed...It shouldn't be for once a year...However, due to the commercialization of x-mas, the emphasis is put on this one day...Remember, this is the time of year a lot of retail company's make their yearly profits... btw, if you have the means, I would highly suggest that you adopt a family...To me, it was really rewarding...however, as macalu said, we should be giving every day, not just x-mas...
Why do people complain about the commercialization of xmas, when commercialization is the foundation of our society? You are raised to compete and "educated" to buy and sell. It's the American Christian way. Then there is this one day a year when it is a problem. I don't get it.
i guess i draw some pretty sharp distinctions between "American Christian" and "Christian." not everyone who is in America is Christian. not every Christian in America is an "American Christian."
