tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post8661822996720035858..comments2024-01-14T01:02:51.354-07:00Comments on 320 * Sycamore: gluttony & the holidaysMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11998834833645862095noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-38077250108270238272014-01-08T18:10:29.964-07:002014-01-08T18:10:29.964-07:00Yes! I've heard this before and think it's...Yes! I've heard this before and think it's GREAT. Not only does it narrow it down for the parents (and make it "easy" to think of gift ideas) but it's great for the kids so they have some sort of expectation. You get them 15+ gifts one Christmas, then next year if money is tighter and they "only" ;) get 5 each, most kids will feel slighted. I like this idea so that they have a general idea of what to expect.Katynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-1896823357793167442014-01-08T17:54:47.388-07:002014-01-08T17:54:47.388-07:00Wow, great post. My 18 year old accidentally used ...Wow, great post. My 18 year old accidentally used a bank credit card, thinking it was her debit card she uses for gas, etc. She was upset she has to pay the bill...tough lesson. So here is the Christmas idea I wish I'd implemented years ago-4 things; something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read. Santa can bring them the "want item" or bring a surprise:) We used to go CRAZY when our four kiddos were younger-big mistake. My husband always said experiences were the best gift-going to a holiday show together, etc.Jane Carvernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-26387305734561021212014-01-08T17:54:45.095-07:002014-01-08T17:54:45.095-07:00Man, my son is only 7 weeks old, so I'm having...Man, my son is only 7 weeks old, so I'm having a hard time thinking about how I would handle these things. I feel like kids now are feeling more and more entitled, so I will try to make sure he feels grateful for what he has. Good luck to us!Missyhttp://domesticateddivablog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-1305539465585496622014-01-08T17:49:21.365-07:002014-01-08T17:49:21.365-07:00I loved this post because it rings true in my fami...I loved this post because it rings true in my family, as well. My goal for 2012 is to have a family service project every month. And not just dropping cookies off at a neighbor. I'm hoping for more WORK. I feel that helping others teaches us to appreciate more. (Like your first commenter said!) Now I just need to find some creative ideas to serve with small children. That's the tricky part.Whitneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-66906086850000079262014-01-08T17:49:15.514-07:002014-01-08T17:49:15.514-07:00Oh Melissa, I know your pain. Sometimes I winder w...Oh Melissa, I know your pain. Sometimes I winder where we went wrong. By trying to give our children a better life, read more, than we had, we have created our own little monsters. My eldest is the worst. She has the impression we can give her money or things whenever she feels she "needs" them. I have taken the route of almost always making her wait. Wait until I can get cash over for your allowance; I'm not making a special trip. Wait until I get to the thrift store for binders; fix the ones that are falling apart for now. The other tactic that gets used a lot is one of sacrifice. If you want to go to the movies this weekend, we aren't going to be able to put that money into the vacation fund. As for Christmas, we have done the three gifts, we have done the one need, want, wear, and read. And its all worked. Their expectations, fortunately, for the holidays are pretty reasonable. This year I think we are going to do stockings for each family member in the household. So we would each get three. We will set a spending limit for each one. The purpose isn't content but quality. What will bring a smile to someone? What have they really been wanting? or What do they need? etc Gifts from others I can't control and don't try.Teresa @ Sagebrush Ridgehttp://sagebrushridge.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-32236547310439448722014-01-08T13:19:10.070-07:002014-01-08T13:19:10.070-07:00Some are shocked but one thing we have done is not...Some are shocked but one thing we have done is not exchange gifts with the extended family. We do a Christmas Eve gift exchange (kids only, $25 value). The children each get one gift from whichever Aunt/Uncle/grandparent has their name. That's it. <br /><br />They do not even get gifts from their grandparents (unless said grandparent has their name). <br /><br />This keeps my shopping down because I'm not buying for dozens of people - nor are we receiving dozens of gifts from them. It sounds awful but it's wonderful. <br /><br />We do not do "3 gifts" at home because our home is the only place they are really receiving Christmas gifts. I'll be frank, I have yet to hear of a family practicing the "3 gifts" that doesn't end up saying "but of course they get gifts from other people." So it's not really 3 gifts so much as "3 gifts until we get to grandma's." <br /><br />Otherwise I find that as my kids have learned to earn money (12 and 14) they appreciate the value of things more. When I offer to let them use their own money from their saving accounts to buy this or that that "only" cost so much - it's amazing how different their take on it is.K FSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-56018708747252094582014-01-08T13:18:51.697-07:002014-01-08T13:18:51.697-07:00Love:" we've tried to make holidays more...Love:" we've tried to make holidays more about traditions and experiences than gifts..." It's so true. I like the idea of letting kids know how many gifts they will be opening on Christmas morning, so there are no unmet expectations or visions of 20 presents in their lap that they open and then toss aside to the next one... :)melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-21499429604853953462014-01-08T13:18:48.853-07:002014-01-08T13:18:48.853-07:00Thank you, Amanda! I've never heard of the sho...Thank you, Amanda! I've never heard of the shoeboxes, but I know there are plenty of opportunities to serve others that we are going to try to work in this year...melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-51105573978651651622014-01-08T13:18:48.027-07:002014-01-08T13:18:48.027-07:00I second the Entitlement Trap. Also, here's s...I second the Entitlement Trap. Also, here's something we did last year that made a HUGE difference to us and my boys seemed to love it too.<br /><br />http://iammommahearmeroar.blogspot.com/2010/11/second-day-of-christmas-good-deed.html<br /><br />I'm new to your blog, but a friend sent me the link to this post. I love your thoughts here.<br /><br />CheriIammommahearmeroarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-46076437538175731882014-01-08T13:18:46.738-07:002014-01-08T13:18:46.738-07:00I love hearing things like this!I love hearing things like this!melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-47936487594485722082014-01-08T13:18:45.680-07:002014-01-08T13:18:45.680-07:00I think thank you notes are a fantastic idea. As I...I think thank you notes are a fantastic idea. As I've gotten more kids, I've been more slacker in this area, and it's something I want to require. I agree also that it is more about scaling back the whole year! Thanks, Laura :)melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-20619688678962110062014-01-08T13:18:44.688-07:002014-01-08T13:18:44.688-07:00Your parents did it right! Love hearing how others...Your parents did it right! Love hearing how others do it. Don't you think it would do us all good to go live in a less developed country for a month?melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-83399474741043115072014-01-08T13:18:42.668-07:002014-01-08T13:18:42.668-07:00Awesome. I think they appreciate those gifts even ...Awesome. I think they appreciate those gifts even more if there aren't as many! And I love that you used part of the fund to help others..melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-57696597291892481642014-01-08T13:18:40.696-07:002014-01-08T13:18:40.696-07:00Love that goal.Love that goal.melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-15468046795958833332014-01-08T13:18:32.860-07:002014-01-08T13:18:32.860-07:00Love that white envelope idea...so touching! Thank...Love that white envelope idea...so touching! Thank you, Ashley!melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-67320409912867856472014-01-08T13:18:32.496-07:002014-01-08T13:18:32.496-07:00So sweet...love this.So sweet...love this.melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-31911646929137531902014-01-08T13:18:29.073-07:002014-01-08T13:18:29.073-07:00Thank you, Lauren!Thank you, Lauren!melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-69798933805128087612014-01-08T13:18:27.951-07:002014-01-08T13:18:27.951-07:00Hi, Melissa. I'm a first-time commenter, long...Hi, Melissa. I'm a first-time commenter, long-time reader. I'm also a Latter-day Saint and don't think I live too far from you--not sure, though. Anyway, back to the topic. I worry about perpetuating that tradition of gluttony to my kids at the expense of teaching them something better, no matter how fun it is. Have you heard of Advent Conspiracy? Check it out at http://www.adventconspiracy.org/. Their promo videos (up on the horizontal menu) are really excellent--http://tinyurl.com/3pbuo5t. Since watching their videos, I have re-thought how I'm using my resources and how to best teach my kids to use their to find and help others find joy. Advent Conspiracy led me to RethinkingChristmas.com which isn't really user-friendly but has great ideas that we will implement this year. Like a family who does an "Elves Workshop" in which they craft things for their siblings with their parents' help--on Thanksgiving Day the calendar is pulled out to schedule in tutoring and creating the following weeks . And another family who eats simple dinners of beans and rice (representative of the meal that a great number of people on this planet enjoy) for the two weeks before Thanksgiving, and then at Thanksgiving dinner they determine what charity will receive the money they saved on their grocery bill during those two weeks of simple dinners. Other people posted really simple ideas for gift-giving. Waiting with bated breath to see what other people suggest for a simpler, more joyful holiday season . . ..Liz Playernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-15868234679262892172014-01-08T13:18:26.953-07:002014-01-08T13:18:26.953-07:00So, so true. I read an article where they asked ch...So, so true. I read an article where they asked children in October or November what they got for Christmas last year. Most could hardly remember one thing!melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-37565063261420384482014-01-08T13:18:22.971-07:002014-01-08T13:18:22.971-07:00I know. Darn ads...you never know which one will p...I know. Darn ads...you never know which one will pop up, funny that it was toys :) It would be nice to keep this blog ad-free, but if I'm going to take time away from my family to keep it up, it needs to give back (financially) to my family.melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-86159455535812937742014-01-08T13:18:21.979-07:002014-01-08T13:18:21.979-07:00LOL: "so don't be disappointed in a youn...LOL: "so don't be disappointed in a young kid who seems destined to be a Kardasian, LOL. The majority turn out just fine" <br />I hope so!melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-52611328829552359542014-01-08T13:18:20.985-07:002014-01-08T13:18:20.985-07:00So true...the little things add up quickly! I like...So true...the little things add up quickly! I like your saving system.melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-79501540142922724262014-01-08T13:18:20.641-07:002014-01-08T13:18:20.641-07:00This is an issue I have been trying to decide how ...This is an issue I have been trying to decide how to tackle as my son gets older. After this year (he is three and a half), I fully intend to scale back and teach him about the importance of giving as opposed to receiving and how to be a good steward financially. There are many great posts here that I will use. In closing though, I do find it ironic that the advertisement under this blog was the toy manufacturer's toy a day giveaway...Marlendanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-37891845437106537592014-01-08T13:18:19.961-07:002014-01-08T13:18:19.961-07:00I think most grandparents are if you talk to them ...I think most grandparents are if you talk to them beforehand...this is what we're thinking of getting, would you like to go in on it, etc.melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094626877865766804.post-46142779826195535752014-01-08T13:18:18.953-07:002014-01-08T13:18:18.953-07:00It is. And I think it's always good to begin w...It is. And I think it's always good to begin with the end in mind (Stephen Covey)...thank you!melissa*320 sycamorenoreply@blogger.com