How Much Is Too Much For Christmas?

[MrsFrozen]

How many gifts do you give your kids for Christmas? I am giving ours quite a bit, about 12 gifts, but they do have many religious themed gifts. Also, the rest are mostly educational. Plus, they have what the family sent. I always got a lot of stuff at Christmas. We go through and give toys to charity before Christmas and of course we keep the Catholic traditions in our house of advent and Christmas. I'm worried, though, that they are getting too much. Do you think this is spoiling them? They only get new toys at Christmas and birthdays, never at any other time. Thank you for your opinions.

[Paddington]

MrsFrozen,

My 2 cents = You can't spoil anybody with the presents you described.

Spoilage is due to a whole bunch of things that don't have to do with presents.

2 more cents = The presents you described should help to keep them from getting spoiled.

Paddington

[cmotherofpirl]

Each of my kids gets one major gift, one article of clothing and one educational something or other. They get oranges and sox in their stockings from the Christmas Mouse. They also get a gift from the aunt and a gift from Grandma.
On Christmas Eve we invite the neighbors and friends to come to Midnight Mass supper. My kids have always preferred the party to presents.

[homeschoolmom]

My kids are getting one big-ticket item from us (and by that I mean less than $100). They also get one smallish something to play with while we wait for company to come. I am also in charge of purchasing gifts from each of my parents (they send the money)... so they each get something from each of them. We will get one small family gift from my in-laws. And they will get a gift from their uncle and aunt. We don't exchange with the other uncle and aunt. So, my kids will each get:
1 big gift (something they reeeeeally are hoping for)
3 or so medium gifts
1 small gift
and one or two family gifts

Oh, and they buy each other gifts, so there's another small gift or two.

And I try to keep them not necessarily educational (in the literal sense)... see why here [url="http://www.familymanweb.com/cartoon3.gif"]http://www.familymanweb.com/cartoon3.gif[/url]

[scardella]

I was given many gifts as a child, and I think that contributed to me being somewhat selfish and materialistic. I think if they don't appreciate every single gift that they get (for the most part) then they're getting too much. If they get lots of stuff, they won't really use some of it and it'll just become clutter. It'll just be about the presents themselves and they forget any other reason for Christmas... They'll also be disappointed if they don't get exactly what they want. I'm still really bad about that last point. When I want something, I usually have a very specific desire.

Edited December 23, 2006 by scardella

[IcePrincessKRS]

Mmm.... I try to budget a certain ammount per person I have to buy for (we do a family Secret Santa gift exchange since there are SO many of us on both sides, we'd go broke if we bought for everyone) and spend a little extra on my husband and kids. My mom was always "over generous" and we had tons of presents. My husband's family was less extravagant. I try to strike a happy medium, because if I don't I will tend to be like my mom (which would, in turn, give my husband a heart attack).

I didn't buy my kids any big ticket items. They have a variety of smaller items which will be easy to travel with and hopefully keep them occupied in the long car trips and plane ride we are planning on taking in the next few months. Off the top of my head we got them each 6-10 med-small gifts ($20 and under, most in the $5 range---I made it an even number of gifts but I can't recall exactly every item). They will also get a couple gifts from grandparents, whoever has their name in our Secret Santa exchange, and some strays from random aunts or uncles who buy for everyone anyway. I specifically asked that no one go all out on us this year since I am trying to discern what I can pack and take with us and what I have to leave behind in storage and I know I would like to bring at least some of their new gifts.

So, mostly not-educational-type gifts. Basically it was non-clothing items that will be easy to pack and bring with us that I know they will use pretty much daily (I did get them each a new tutu, but that the only clothing I bought them). The problem/truth is, while I would have loved to splurge on them and get them fancy gifts they don't really NEED anything, and I know they will be delighted with the things I DID buy. They're 3 years and 20 months and easy to please. lol

[quote name='scardella' post='1148117' date='Dec 23 2006, 12:38 PM']
It'll just be about the presents themselves and they forget any other reason for Christmas...
[/quote]

I was talking to Adrienne this morning and she was talking about Christmas and out of the blue she said "Christmas is Jesus' Birthday!" It was so cute! I really haven't been drilling that into her head, or filling her with thoughts of Santa (I still haven't decided how we're going to approach him... last night I think I told her Santa would bring her some presents from Mommy and Daddy). She knows she'll get some presents and thats about it, but when we DO talk about Christmas I make sure to tell her that we celebrate it because its Jesus' birthday--sometimes I find the casual mention seems to stick in her head better than my sitting her down and trying to explain it in great detail.

[Colleen]

My siblings and I usually get three gifts: one from Mom and Dad, one from their "Special Person," and one from Santa. It's been that way for awhile.

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='Colleen' post='1148371' date='Dec 23 2006, 07:01 PM']
My siblings and I usually get three gifts: one from Mom and Dad, one from their "Special Person," and one from Santa. It's been that way for awhile.
[/quote]
We also get three gifts. Though we don't get things from our "Special Person". Well... We do. But you know what I mean.

We get one gift from our parents and two from Santa (except in my case now that I'm an adult.. I think I get one from Santa and two from mom and dad). Santa gifts are usually things they really want. Parent gifts are thoughtful and nice but not necessarily expensive.

Then we each get gifts from both sets of grandparents. The number/size of those gifts vary from year to year, depending on financial situations. Usually one gift at each of those houses is also from Santa.

We get little gifts here and there from various aunts, uncles, cousins, and Godparents.

All in all, I think it's important that Christmas is kept simple and minimal. What should be abounding is love and joy, not necessarily material goodies. What we give in love and thoughtfulness in remembrance of our King is what is special and important. These are the true treasures we pass on to future generations.

[rkwright]

My Aunt was telling me the other day she is giving each of her kids 3 gifts (plus one Santa I think...) because the wise men brought 3 gifts. I thought this was a cool way to bring a little of the real meaning of Christmas even in the gift exchange.

[franciscanheart]

[quote name='rkwright' post='1148463' date='Dec 23 2006, 11:34 PM']
My Aunt was telling me the other day she is giving each of her kids 3 gifts (plus one Santa I think...) because the wise men brought 3 gifts. I thought this was a cool way to bring a little of the real meaning of Christmas even in the gift exchange.
[/quote]
That's why we get three gifts.

[xTrishaxLynnx]

I bought a lot of stuff for my 7 year old sister, and my Dad got her 4 or 5 gifts. As I was going through it all tonight to wrap everything I decided that some of what I bought her I'm going to save for her birthday which is Jan. 18th... I just think that somewhere around 15 gifts is way too much for Christmas.

I usually mention one thing that I really want, and my Dad pretty much always gets it. Sort of takes the surprise out of it, but recieving gifts isn't what I really care about at Christmastime. He's got really good taste, so even if I have nothing in mind I know I'll like whatever he gets me. A couple of years ago I didn't give him any ideas, and he got me a cross that I[b] love[/b]... I wear it all the time. And sometimes I get gifts at our big family party, and sometimes I don't. Anything extra that I get from aunts & uncles, cousins, friends, etc. is an unexpected surprise.

[cmotherofpirl]

My kids are not little anymore. So this year they bought each other clothes. Everyone knows what everyone else is getting since everything needs tried on and commented on at least 10 times per item.
The boys got pea coats, my daughter got clothes and I got shoes. However, since they are Christmas presents they can't wear the stuff til tonight.
I am cleaning my kitchen since rumor has it a stove "might" show up this morning.
They can't conceive of Christmas without pumpkin log and OJ cookies. :

[MrsFrozen]

Thanks for all this great advice! After opening gifts this morning, we decided that next year we're going to give about half as much as this year. It was quite a bit. I got carried away.. LOL

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='MrsFrozen' post='1149019' date='Dec 24 2006, 09:52 PM']
Thanks for all this great advice! After opening gifts this morning, we decided that next year we're going to give about half as much as this year. It was quite a bit. I got carried away.. LOL
[/quote]
I've had years where I've gotten carried away, too. Like going shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving and things are only $5, $10, $15! It's easy to go nutso. I have found we have much happier Christmases when we DO stuff (Mass, cook, play games, watch movies together etc) rather than the whole pinicle of the day being the gifts. Now, granted, my kids still look forward to the gifts-- no doubt. I think having other traditions for them to look forward to (even if they are corny) gives the day more balance.

[Thy Geekdom Come]

We always got way too many gifts as kids. We were spoiled.

I do have one thing to say...it's kind of a bummer when all the gifts are practical. I'd like just one thing that's silly, entertaining (but not educational), etc. for Christmas.

Jen and I will probably follow her family's tradition...one present before midnight Mass...clothing FOR midnight Mass. Then everything else in the morning. Probably something big from us, a few little knick-knacks and toys, gifts from the grandparents, and that's it.