So much for a low-key Christmas!

brightning

It's a battle I can't win, so I've put up my white flag. I wanted a small Christmas (see the size of our tree in my sig). I never got tons of stuff as a kid, and I hoped DD would be the same. I wanted to minimize Santa and focus on a happy family time since DH is gone so often.

So ... DH has insisted that we take DD this afternoon to sit on Santa's lap. He's also insisted that all of her presents be from Santa. Uggggh. He has no opinion on sooooo many things in DD's life, but he is absolutely insistent on this matter, so I've given up on Christmas this year! So Dana will get 900 toys, take her picture with a strange man and have more toys than any one child needs. 

I'm giving in because I'm hoping that DH will bond with DD over this whole experience, sharing part of his childhood with her. After 19 mos he's still a bit uncomfortable with his "dad" role, so I'll do anything to help it.

(And yes, I have gone through her old toys and saved for future child, plus given to Goodwill. We also "adopted" three children for the holidays and gave many bags of food to the foodbank.)

brittneycc1982

I think it is important for them to bond, whatever it takes.  You can always get into the spirit without going overboard though!  We aren't doing the Santa lap thing, but we did get her a couple toys from Santa, bought her a Christmas outfit, and are going to make cookies for Santa.  She won't remember any of it!  But it sets the tone for the years to come.

mrs.v_9/24/05

It is important for them to bond and I'm sure you guys will have a wonderful Christmas no matter what. I think the stress of it all approaching makes us, at least me, want to have a smaller Christmas but I know once it's here and over with I won't regret anything. We only got DS a few gifts because he has more than enough and the whole Santa / lap thing didn't work out lol

ecoppins

We are trying to do a low key family oriented christmas too. We decided as a family to adopt another family and to each adopt a senior citizen too. We have a big tree, and the house is decorated, but the presents are more modest. Dd is getting one from us, one from Santa and a stocking. Of course she's also getting presents from aunts, great aunts, grandparents etc. She is after all the first grand child on both sides, so that is out of my control.