What did Christmas look like for you growing up? I feel super fortunate to say that mine was full of presents. Tons of presents, probably too many presents. Actually, I *know* there were too many presents! I think a lot of times, holiday expectations are set based upon our own traditions growing up. But, they also can be changed or created new.
My mom and her sisters growing up, didn’t have a lot. They didn’t have the big Christmas mornings, and I remember a story my mom once told me about her just wanting an apple. That’s all she wanted, and because she didn’t have much growing up, she wanted to give my little brother and I everything her and my dad could!
Now that I’m a parent to six and three year old boys, I felt the need to keep up that Christmas morning tradition of TONS of presents. But last year I had a hard time with this idea! I had just started minimizing and purging the things in our home, and the way that I thought about impulse purchases had changed, but I wasn’t quite where I am today. Last year I *knew* my kids didn’t need some of the things I bought. I knew that some of them weren’t great quality, I was using them as filler gifts because I have a quantity in mind, and I just *knew* I was buying just to buy. But I fought the urge and went overboard anyway. And I felt guilt…
This year, as I’m really going all in with minimizing, I am not buying crap. Not doing it. Each and every extra thing we don’t need is just clutter. Taking time away from my life to pick up and organize extra toys my kids will likely not play with.
Nope! This year I plan to buy only a handful of things. And it was never so clear to me as it was on Cash’s birthday, that they don’t need much to be happy! Cash got three small presents for his birthday, and one of them he was ecstatic about! Completely happy, and he didn’t have the expectations of tons of gifts.
You get to set those expectations for your own kids. It’s doesn’t have to be what you did growing up, or what the neighbor does, or what so-and-so did on Facebook. What will it be for your family? And if you’re that mama that wants to go overboard, then do it! I will tell you, the kids end up just fine. I did! 🤷🏻♀️ (I think 😂)
However you go about gift giving with your kids, I hope they have the Merriest Christmas! 🎄
