tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post7338605686418531685..comments2024-03-16T02:18:16.412-07:00Comments on Salt and Chocolate: final thoughts on christmasMary Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15147791473133449106noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-49792121270059590462014-02-20T00:03:17.992-08:002014-02-20T00:03:17.992-08:00Forgot to say: I love your advent calender, I have...Forgot to say: I love your advent calender, I have seen this idea before, where people put the parts of a Christmas crib in the calender, animals and so on, and by Christmas, the crib is complete. We have two calendars, one for Christmas and one for Ramadan, mostly filled with sweets. Need to change this! :-)Gabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01564405699050596607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-30609183403254157912014-02-19T23:57:42.987-08:002014-02-19T23:57:42.987-08:00When my son was younger, he got many presents too...When my son was younger, he got many presents too, lots of Lego or Playmobil... We have stopped this, now I try to make non-material gifts, like a day in the zoo or a daytrip. This year, my son had absolutely no idea what he wanted for christmas, so he asked for money... I HATE giving money as a gift! He saved all the money he got for something "really precious" as he said. Yesterday, he decided he'll spend his money on a keyboard. He has been playing "piano" on our iPad for weeks now, has lots of fun and I think he'll enjoy his keyboard. Good choice... :-)Gabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01564405699050596607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-34985458769897138002014-02-19T23:14:20.014-08:002014-02-19T23:14:20.014-08:00I have to say that because we were on such a stric...I have to say that because we were on such a strict budget for several years we have stopped going over the top for the holidays. BUT it has been more difficult to get the extended family to understand that our children don't need all of the things they want to buy, especially when it comes to technological "tools" i just can not fathom why a child needs an ipad or the newest gaming system. We've also stuck to asking the grandparents to give gifts that are active ones or events - things like basketball hoops, new helmets, scooters, tickets to upcoming entertainment events etc. I should also add that Ethan's top gift choice was a jersey from his favorite soccer player...so it seems our kids are getting that Christmas isn't all about a pile of presents :) Or at least I hope. Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03210820513382353417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-43818649422325720282014-02-18T19:13:23.874-08:002014-02-18T19:13:23.874-08:00Oh wow, thank you so much for commenting all of yo...Oh wow, thank you so much for commenting all of you! It's so good to hear I am not alone. I too get swept up in the excitement and the childhood memories and buy more than what they need. It's so hard to resist the frenzy! Mary Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15147791473133449106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-38110176832162136962014-02-18T07:48:31.603-08:002014-02-18T07:48:31.603-08:00I know exactly what you mean--I don't usually ...I know exactly what you mean--I don't usually get the boys toys for christmas/birthdays because they have so many already, and they don't really play with toys that much (why? have I forced them to grow up too fast? yikes!). They will play Legos, but they have a zillion of those already. They draw, they play games, read, and play outsid, and otherwise mostly run around doing spinjitzu and casting spells on each other (the little ones anyway...my oldest son plays guitar all day, so he's easy, but expensive--guitar accessories)e. But as we near the holiday, I start to freak out that I didn't get them any toys, and what fun is that? But then they end up with so much from grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. that they don't miss out at all.Andreahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14748454816480995214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-28437942095074063772014-02-18T02:22:00.034-08:002014-02-18T02:22:00.034-08:00Christmas is out of control! I have two young ones...Christmas is out of control! I have two young ones and I get too many presents and they are all from the cheap and crazy variety stores. I don't mean to sound ungrateful but I only want beautiful wooden and handmade gifts. Actually i don't want anymore gifts. Like your sons my children don't need any more toys and they are busy with all the facets of life such as arts and crafts, playing outside and school for one. I'm glad I am not the only one. Your post is not too late, I am STILL thinking about how consumerist Christmas is these days.Zenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16373747863822737468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-71999189935554741212014-02-17T17:17:57.014-08:002014-02-17T17:17:57.014-08:00I agree so much with you on this, even though it i...I agree so much with you on this, even though it is hard to not get swept up in the Christmas fervor! We try to give a few meaningful and lasting gifts, as well as some practical ones, but most of the time even our minimal approach feels like too much. We have asked friends and family members to give the boys gifts that don't take up any space, but still excite them, like membership at the Natural History Museum and movie tickets, and those have been quite wonderful.Maiz Connollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02536913951109879716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8224074171829015497.post-67654276553201658562014-02-17T17:15:41.549-08:002014-02-17T17:15:41.549-08:00I agree so much with you on this, even though it i...I agree so much with you on this, even though it is hard to not get swept up in the Christmas fervor! We try to give a few meaningful and lasting gifts, as well as some practical ones, but most of the time even our minimal approach feels like too much. We have asked friends and family members to give the boys gifts that don't take up any space, but still excite them, like membership at the Natural History Museum and movie tickets, and those have been quite wonderful.Maiz Connollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02536913951109879716noreply@blogger.com