‘Tis the Season
“It’s busy out here”, J called from the entrance of Toys R Us.
It’s 3 weeks from Christmas. I’d be more surprised if they weren’t.
Every year, I have it in mind that we aren’t going to spend beyond our means on presents. With 3 kids, some kind of set limit almost seem mandatory as a matter of fairness if nothing else. 3 kids, 3 gifts each seems reasonable. It’s not as if they’re hurting for toys. In fact, we’re in dire need of space more than anything.
I brought this idea up to J last year and was promptly vetoed.
The year prior, I had a fleeting thought of going with the handmade approach. Except, in all honesty, I’m not very crafty. I can imagine the look on my mom’s face, though, if I showed up with some cross-stitch seasonal snowman or haphazardly crocheted scarf. It wouldn’t be good. Also, still expensive and more time-consuming than I can manage. I mean, I can barely find time to update my blog. Priorities, people.
And so I’ve given in. We stand in lines that stretch out the door, buying costly mass produced merchandise that nobody really needs from big-name chains. Because I’m not sure how to go about any other way. Because I want everyone to be happy. Because I want my kids to have a memorable Christmas. Because love, apparently, in some circles, can be bought.
More than an hour later, he calls again. “I just got out of there. And we’re broke.”
‘Tis the season.
8 Responses
It’s really one of those things I think we all struggle with. We’re in the process of trying to reinvent how we do Christmas, and I think it’s a process that will take a few years.
I am so thankful to say I haven’t step foot in the mall, or Toys R Us this year. Those places give me headaches!
Corinne´s latest blog post: Christmas Prelude
@Corinne, I haven’t stepped foot inside, either, because I make J do it all. Ha!
Yup, we were at Toys R Us Saturday and it was busy.
And we’re also broke. Now we’re looking forward to our tax refund. Then we’ll have monies again.
Amber´s latest blog post: Korea Bound?
@Amber, Same here! I was actually going to say that about the tax refund in the entry, but edited it out.
Hhaha Oh man I haven’t been inside of a Toys R Us in YEARS! We got all of Z’s presents this year at Target and with some massive coupons, about $50 total. We got super lucky this year and I suspect as she gets older, it will get a lot worse lol Shoulda just bought her a big package of bows and been done with it.
Candace´s latest blog post: Hello December, Already?
@Candace, Every year my mom jokes that she should just get the kids a big empty box. I don’t think we could get away with that with Jedi this year, but Buzz and Abby would probably love it.
Ugh, I feel you. This is something I’m struggling with, as well. I really want to simplify our Christmas, but my husband’s a bit hesitant. Both of our mothers seriously get into the gift-buying thing — and my mother has actually said to me that she’s so into buying gifts because she loves to recieve them herself. ::Gulp:: Part of the reason we want to tone down our Christmas is that money’s tight even before gift-buying.
‘Tis the season is right!
semicrunchymama´s latest blog post: Christmas Wonder
@semicrunchymama, Your mom sounds like my mom.