Could you cancel Christmas? (grandpa, family, gifts, home)
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These parents are ridiculous. They've parented in such a way as to produce spoilt children and now they're over reacting and penalising their kids for their own bad choices.
I would never have the need to "cancel Christmas" like these parents did because I raised my children right from the get-go. It's not that hard to prevent a feeling of entitlement...
I disagree. You can do what you do as parent, but if they go to day care or school, some of what you do is going to be undone. I don't have kids. When I do, I'm going to do what I can to make sure they're not spoiled, but I can see how it would be challenging because of other parents and other kids.
The only thing I'd like to cancel is adults giving adults gifts - I find it a real pain to have to give gifts to relatives who don't need or really want anything, and I wish people would stop giving me stuff. Gifts are special when you're a kid, but at this point in my life I enjoy the other things much more than opening presents.
I told my wife something similar- I have most of the things I want or need, that are in the price range of reasonability. I don't need more "stuff", I don't need or want any cutesey little crap that people might give just because they feel obligated to give something, I have enough "things".
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mnseca
If you want to get back to the meaning of Christmas, then you can forget about Jesus, because Christmas is an ancient celebration of the solstice and it was around by different names long before someone decided it was Jesus' birthday.
Many cultures have celebrations based on the solstices and equinoxes, due to observable astronomical associations and their relationships with the seasons, particularly planting and harvest. As well, earlier religions introduced the idea of "virgin birth" (particularly Zoroastrianism/Mithraism), 'good' and 'evil' and 'heaven' and 'hell' prior to the advent of Christianity.
Christianity appears to be merely another cult whose followers appropriated ideas from earlier religions, and co-opted holidays/feast days/celebrations in order to ease the conversion of those followers of other religions to Christianity.
What is remarkable to me is that, with all of the knowledge that we have accumulated over the last 2,000 years, there are still so many people who cling to these outdated and demonstrably false belief systems.
Even so, despite a lack of credence in these archaic religious notions, I find the idea of feasting, celebrations and gift-giving provide a psychological boost going into the [relative] darkness of Winter particularly where Winter tends to be cold and dark, inhabitants of warmer climates likely have little need for this but, really, why pass up an excuse to party and have a good time?
And if someone wants to give me gifts, I really appreciate fine stout ales and well-aged single-barrel bourbons.
I disagree. You can do what you do as parent, but if they go to day care or school, some of what you do is going to be undone. I don't have kids. When I do, I'm going to do what I can to make sure they're not spoiled, but I can see how it would be challenging because of other parents and other kids.
wait til you have kids: remember the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
As for this family: I would have trouble agreeing with what they are doing, but the fact they appeared on TV really blows my mind. They are not really looking out for their 3 little ones as much as they are enjoying their 15 minutes of fame. If they were doing this only to prove a point to the kids, it would never have gone this far.
Well, they didn't really cancel Christmas. Their kids are still getting gifts from family members. They are not getting $500 worth of toys from their parents. Their house is decorated. They're still celebrating Christmas. They are not celebrating the consumerism aspect of it. I think it's good for people to stop making holidays about money.
I think that is even worse; allowing the family members to give them gifts, but they are not.. what the heck is that all about?
I think that is even worse; allowing the family members to give them gifts, but they are not.. what the heck is that all about?
What are they supposed to do? Tell grandpa and grandma, "Sorry, you can't give little Johnny and Joey presents this year, we're trying to teach them a lesson?" That would be even worse and more sanctimonious, in my opinion.
What are they supposed to do? Tell grandpa and grandma, "Sorry, you can't give little Johnny and Joey presents this year, we're trying to teach them a lesson?" That would be even worse and more sanctimonious, in my opinion.
They could say, "Sorry, you can't give little Johnny and Joey presents this year; we're trying to become famous and get rich.''
If you want to get back to the meaning of Christmas, then you can forget about Jesus, because Christmas is an ancient celebration of the solstice and it was around by different names long before someone decided it was Jesus' birthday.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zymer
I told my wife something similar- I have most of the things I want or need, that are in the price range of reasonability. I don't need more "stuff", I don't need or want any cutesey little crap that people might give just because they feel obligated to give something, I have enough "things".
Many cultures have celebrations based on the solstices and equinoxes, due to observable astronomical associations and their relationships with the seasons, particularly planting and harvest. As well, earlier religions introduced the idea of "virgin birth" (particularly Zoroastrianism/Mithraism), 'good' and 'evil' and 'heaven' and 'hell' prior to the advent of Christianity.
Christianity appears to be merely another cult whose followers appropriated ideas from earlier religions, and co-opted holidays/feast days/celebrations in order to ease the conversion of those followers of other religions to Christianity.
What is remarkable to me is that, with all of the knowledge that we have accumulated over the last 2,000 years, there are still so many people who cling to these outdated and demonstrably false belief systems.
Even so, despite a lack of credence in these archaic religious notions, I find the idea of feasting, celebrations and gift-giving provide a psychological boost going into the [relative] darkness of Winter particularly where Winter tends to be cold and dark, inhabitants of warmer climates likely have little need for this but, really, why pass up an excuse to party and have a good time?
And if someone wants to give me gifts, I really appreciate fine stout ales and well-aged single-barrel bourbons.
Blah, blah, blah you two! If there is anyone on CD who did not know this before they joined, they know it now because EVERY freaking Christmas at least ten people post it! And don't all cultures appropriate from each other?
Back to the OP, no, I think what this family did is kind of silly. Certainly one (or one family) can give to charity and give Christmas presents to each other as well. "Going overboard" means different things to different people.
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