Day 9 Christmas Gifts

For day 9, I was asked to write if I'm ever to hard on myself. Humm....let me think about that? Am I ever?? How about 24/7!! I do it so frequently I don't even catch myself doing it (but I'm starting too!)

I have a Christmas list and I am responsible for buying the gifts for 95% of our family. I've been stressing out lately about getting my brother and mother's gifts ordered in time so that I can wrap them, and then send them (they live out of state). My mom is divorced, and older, so I want her to have things to unwrap on Christmas. This is all too much on me though. I'm also in charge of my kids gifts, husbands, nieces, in-laws, friends, etc. I'm making it easier on myself this year. Extended family gets 1, maybe two nice gifts, and if you live out of town, it won't be wrapped. Hallelujah, I just pushed the easy button!

Now, back to my task of catching myself being hard on myself...I'm sure there will be more to come.

 

Hi, LizzyBennett. You sure took a lot on yourself, with that Christmas gift list. Only you know how to handle it.

Can you make buying the presents a 12-month thing, and not just a few weeks?

I'm 86 now and stopped playing Santa Claus several years ago. I exhausted myself.

Try to enjoy the gift part of the season but remember it is not really about Santa Claus.

 

Another thought. Maybe just give your sister a card saying you are donating all Christmas gift money
to charity. Don't say how much, and pick a charity. My picks are needy veterans, children, dogs and cats.

 

Hi Walt! I would love to just make a donation for my mom and brother instead of a gift, but it wouldn't go over well. TheIt's y're poor and they both buy gifts for our kids and my husband and me. I think they would be resentful, "Why are you giving your money to other needy people, we're needy!".

I have shortened my list though, giving less things to my kids and family. Thanks for the advice. And yes, you're right, Christmas for me is about family and time spent together, not gifts.

 

I sure understand about who would take a charity gift and who would not. Just downsize. Maybe just one gift per person.