Selfish kids at Christmas time. (boy, clothes, play, son)

[regarese]

I'm 32 and my daughter is 2 and people thought it was crazy when all we got her for her 1st Christmas was a Crucifix to hang on the wall in her bedroom. They expected me to go crazy b/c it was her 1st and our only child. I have no intention at all of over indulging her. Growing up, my mom really did a good job of teaching us not to be greedy, not to EXPECT anything, and to be grateful and appreciative for any and everything we got. Sure there were times when I was a little disappointed that I may not have gotten exactly what I would have wanted, but I never complained because I knew what I did get would have disappeared. LOL. I hope to raise my daughter the same way. When I see some things co-workers kids are asking for it just blows my mind. And then the co-workers stressing to figure out how they're going to get these things for their kids. I have a hard time wrapping my head around it.

[pirate girl]

My friend is an amazing mother- she is a single mom (divorced from an abusive marriage) with two children.

She recently told me that her kids get three presents from Santa every year and that's it. She say's if three presents were enough for baby Jesus, three presents are enough for them.

I wish I had done that with my son.

[regarese]

Originally Posted by pirate girl

My friend is an amazing mother- she is a single mom (divorced from an abusive marriage) with two children.

She recently told me that her kids get three presents from Santa every year and that's it. She say's if three presents were enough for baby Jesus, three presents are enough for them.

I wish I had done that with my son.

I recently heard that somewhere else and liked it as well. Another one to limit gifts:
Something you want
Something you need
Something to wear and
Something to read.

[md_mom]

my children had no concept of money and always wanted everything and when I told them that mommy and daddy did not have the money for that they would just tell me to go to the bank So when they wanted a swing set I made them buy it. My mother bought them one of those ATM banks that keeps track of the money as you put it in and we went and picked out a nice but reasonably priced swingset ($80) and they started saving money. They did chores for allowance and if they had a good behavior day at school we would let them have all the change from that day. It worked wonders with them. They bought their swingset and now they help me save up when they want something special.

[cynwldkat]

Originally Posted by pirate girl

My friend is an amazing mother- she is a single mom (divorced from an abusive marriage) with two children.

She recently told me that her kids get three presents from Santa every year and that's it. She say's if three presents were enough for baby Jesus, three presents are enough for them.

I wish I had done that with my son.

What a lovely idea. And so right...3 gifts for Jesus--not only about celebrating by receiving gifts but remembering what Christmas is all about!!

[Rcm58]

Being kids, alot goes on we don't see or think of and kids talk to other kids all day at school. When a kid asks for a gift or a large quantity of gifts he is asking for an item he or she wants but at the same time it could be something they are aware represents a goal one of their peers wants but is unattainable. They as kids are trying to figure out where they fit in socially and economically and are not selfish or mean or evil, they are kids.

[Drouzin]

Oh my gosh did this catch my attention on the right morning! Last night a 13 year old was brought into the jail after an argument with his Mother. His Mother claimed that he had thrown the TV remote at her. The kid was very small for his age, and inconsolably crying his eyes out. The deputy assigned to sit with him had tried everything he could think of to calm the boy down, but could get nowhere so he called for Hubby (who is known for calming down out of control prisoners). Hubby came home with this story…

The boy is bipolar, is picked on at school because he is small, is on several different meds, is dealing with Katrina fall out, is living below poverty level, is going to get Christmas presents donated from a church, is going to get Christmas dinner from a church, is dealing with an out of control drug addict older sister, and is now dealing with the betrayal of his own mother. He admitted to my husband that yes, he cursed his mother out, but swears he didn’t throw the remote. Hubby believes him. The kid isn’t crying inconsolably because he’s in jail, but because his own mother lied to the cops about the thrown remote and sent him off to jail. He is mourning the loss of trust that his mother would do nothing to harm him. The relationship will never be the same and he is devastated. This kid was no hardened juvenile thug.

Frankly, I don’t know what ya’ll do if the kids are spoiled. As a former inner city teacher, and the wife of a corrections officer, I’ve seen the he** that some kids go through at home. Our son was reminded quite often how lucky he was and was taught the he was owed nothing but food, clothing, an education, and love. Anything else he got was lagniappe and he needed to be grateful for it.

PS. Hubby is a softie, but no pushover, when he said he believed this kid, please remember that he hears sob stories all the time and is very skeptical. So when he says he believes this kid, I believe him.

[bingo08]

Originally Posted by pirate girl

My friend is an amazing mother- she is a single mom (divorced from an abusive marriage) with two children.

I wish I had done that with my son.

I like what your friend did, makes a whole lot of sense. Less stress for the parents and the children know what's expected.

[Fat Freddy]

Originally Posted by pirate girl

...if three presents were enough for baby Jesus, three presents are enough for them...

I wonder if baby Jesus had fun playing with his gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

[Roselvr]

Originally Posted by Rcm58

Being kids, alot goes on we don't see or think of and kids talk to other kids all day at school. When a kid asks for a gift or a large quantity of gifts he is asking for an item he or she wants but at the same time it could be something they are aware represents a goal one of their peers wants but is unattainable. They as kids are trying to figure out where they fit in socially and economically and are not selfish or mean or evil, they are kids.

Very good post. I know what it was like to have to fit in when I was younger & couldn't imagine being a kid these days. My father couldn't afford the pants I wanted so I stole them, thankfully I didn't get caught.