UO Thursday 12/1

Elyse1384

Let em rip ladies

Elyse1384

My UO is that I HATE Elf on a Shelf and refuse to do it in my household.  Among other reasons, I'm mostly irritated by it because I feel like I shouldn't need a physical reminder for my kids to behave.  Most of the parents I know do Elf on the Shelf purely for that reason (not any of the other reasons/traditions I've seen online).  I hope to encourage belief in things my kids can't see (we're a religious family) and while I don't think Elfie prevents that lesson from being delivered to my kids, it's just another opportunity for me to encourage my kids to do the right thing and behave without a creepy, visual reminder threatening a giftless Christmas.    

berg

I hate all radio ads that involve small children talking.  I'm talking kids age 3-6.  There is something with car dealerships using their kids to promote their big deals of the month in my area.  I cannot handle it.  I have to immediately change the station.

EmeraldNC

@Elyse1384  I hate Elf On The Shelf too and refuse to do it.  Not for the same reasons you outlined... but because I am not moving a DAMN elf every night and coming up with a creative story as to why.

@berg That is funny...

I will piggy back off of @berg... it CREEPS ME OUT when kids whisper.  There is just something about a tiny voice whispering that freaks me out.  Maybe that is a FFFC?  

edit: grammar

swanbrooner

I am really not into Christmas. I don't decorate, don't have a tree, and DH and I only buy gifts for people out of obligation or in gift exchange situations. 

I'm not necessarily negative about it, but it doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies.

EmeraldNC

swanbrooner said:

I am really not into Christmas. I don't decorate, don't have a tree, and DH and I only buy gifts for people out of obligation or in gift exchange situations. 

I'm not necessarily negative about it, but it doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies. 

STUCK IN THE BOX........ But..... I am SHOCKED! I love Christmas!!!

Assiram42

swanbrooner said:

I am really not into Christmas. I don't decorate, don't have a tree, and DH and I only buy gifts for people out of obligation or in gift exchange situations. 

I'm not necessarily negative about it, but it doesn't give me the warm and fuzzies.

I feel this way too. I mean we decorate, so not to deprive our children, but the holiday just seems to have lost its purpose. It's all about gifts, I'd much prefer to treat it like another Thanksgiving (minus the genocide) and be surrounded by family and not even give or receive gifts.  

I try to teach my children to be grateful for anything they receive, but I always end up feeling crappy after Christmas, it's just depressing.

Wino0920

I love Christmas!!! It is such a happy time of year. I ignore all negative grouchy people. Thanksgiving through New Years is my favorite! Giving and receiving are both absolutely ok in my book. 

Last year, my son was 4 and I decided to implement you give to get. I brought boxes down to our playroom and explained to my son how there are children with no toys. He was shocked. I explained how it's time to give some toys to them so they had toys to play with. It was such a great day. He was filling the boxes like crazy. He just kept saying "no toys mom!!" "Well they can have this and this!" I was so proud. 

When my kids receice their gifts, I teach them appreciation and being grateful. 

And i I love finding a great gift for someone and watching them open it. 


My OU: 
I love Teen Mom. I just finished watching some episodes that I DVR'ed. I get so worked up at how irrational and crazy these girls can be, but I can't turn away!!! 

mombod

We do not Elf on the Shelf but we do have Travelling Kings. My mom had it growing up and so did I. The kings travel all over the house before arriving after Christmas to the manger.  

Elyse1384

@Wino0920 I love watching Teen Mom!  It's such a sick guilty pleasure.  It is like watching a train wreck... I know I shouldn't, but I can't look away.  Most of them make me feel like super mom too (particularly Farrah and Jenelle)

BelhurstBride

We do the elf and the girls love it, but I skipped over the "here to be a tattletale" portion of the book. I don't believe in empty threats and let's be honest- a gift-less Christmas is exactly that.

Sally's just here to help us get ready for the holidays. She decorates the tree for us (ya know, so I don't have to fight the fragile ornaments out of a toddlers hands- call it a cowards way out), she picks up presents that need to go to friend's houses and drops them off for us, she drops off gifts from friends... stuff like that. Most nights she just moves around, though some nights she does something silly. 

Mtnmommy

I don't know if you all are familiar with LuLa Roe, but I think their stuff is ugly. The prints that they use on the leggings are awful. It's too bad because the material really is very comfortable.

delujm0

@Elyse1384 I refuse to do Elf on the Shelf too.  Mostly because it costs like $40 for a shitty quality felt elf, and then idiots on FB are all "look how elaborate and adorable my elf scheme was last night" and I'm all "HOW DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR THIS."  I don't need my kid being like "Elmyra's elf was swinging from the chandelier last night, and mine hasn't moved from the bookshelf in 4 days."  I don't want to be THAT PARENT whose kid ruins the fun for other kids, and I wouldn't tell her the truth about Santa unless she asked me directly, but I find Elf on the Shelf to be stupid, and if DD ever asks why she doesn't have one i'll probably tell her it's a sham.  Or that she doesn't need an elf because Santa spies on her personally, like we all grew up to believe. 

 

I hate the "please guess the sex of my baby based on (stupid old wives tale and/or fuzzy ultrasound pic at a bad angle), JUST FOR FUN" posts.  How is this fun?  Internet strangers literally do not care what the sex of your baby is.  It's not "fun" for them to guess with you the way it might be for your real-life friends and family.  And I don't see why it's fun for you to get random guesses from internet strangers either.  NO old wives tale is more accurate than a random ass guess: 50%.  I don't understand why people think it's "fun" to make guesses either way.  I did NIPT this time so I already know, but with DD I waited patiently for the AS like a normal person without asking anyone, in real life or on the internet, to guess the sex based on nonsense or an early ultrasound.  Don't even get me started on people that think internet strangers can tell more from their ultrasound picture than an ACTUAL ULTRASOUND TECH.  If the tech and your doctor can't tell the sex yet at 12 weeks, neither can I.  I'm an accountant for god's sake.  What do I know.

Elyse1384

@delujm0 All of your second paragraph... JUST YES!  No... it is not fun to play a guessing game based on myths.  No... I don't want to guess the sex of your baby when I don't even care of find out the sex of my own baby before delivery.  I could just as easily make up a myth now.  OK ready... "If you have your toilet paper hanging over on the holder.. you're having a boy. If you have toilet paper hanging under on the holder... it's a girl.  OK everyone now for fun... lets figure out what sex your baby is!"  No... not fun.  Sadly I imagine some ladies would run home and check their toilet paper.  "Oh my God!  I'm having a [insert sex of the baby here]!"  Just ask the tech.  You will not implode by waiting for the anatomy scan.  

MotherofDragons

@mombod I love that! We end the holiday season setting out grass in shoe boxes for "the camels" the night before and then get together for a big dinner on Three Kings Day (Jan 6). I would love to incorporate the traveling kings to go along with that! 

mamaelle27

I hate the snoogle. I feel like it is suffocating me and I either end up smacking my husband with it or being knocked off the bed by it.

EmeraldNC

Mtnmommy said:

I don't know if you all are familiar with LuLa Roe, but I think their stuff is ugly. The prints that they use on the leggings are awful. It's too bad because the material really is very comfortable.

I am a LulaRoe fanatic!!!! I LLLLLLLLOVE it!  I agree they have A LOT of tacky things.... but I choose my prints wisely.  I actually at first refused to wear the prints... I just bought solid items... But now I throw in a print with a solid.  Nothing too wild!

jc_twomamas

@Elyse1384 we're back on track after your RHW confession. I can't stand Elf on the Shelf. 

@mamaelle27 NOOOOOOOO! If this were Friday, I'd flame away. But since it's UO, I'm just going to be sad. Love my snoogle. 

My UO is a week late but, I dislike thanksgiving with a passion. I hate the food and I hate the thoughts behind why we actually celebrate. It's all just yuck to me.
On the flip side of life, I like the gift giving portion of Christmas and love the time of year. I'm not huge on receiving gifts (I'm alright if it's practical or necessary) but love to share a gift with the people in my life that make it so much brighter. They deserve a little something nice or wanted every now and then! Nothing unnecessary, just practical. 

Moneypenny424

I do not understand why everything right now is an ankle pant.  How do you do that in winter?  Maybe I just have PTSD as a 5'11 woman who wore floods for many years because designers didn't make inseams longer than 32".

Assiram42

Moneypenny424 said:

I do not understand why everything right now is an ankle pant.  How do you do that in winter?  Maybe I just have PTSD as a 5'11 woman who wore floods for many years because designers didn't make inseams longer than 32".

I'm just going to pretend you didn't just joke about having PTSD over pants.

ETA: I realize I might be being overly sensitive about this.

brij2006

@mombod I love that!  Never thought to have the traveling 3 kings.  Maybe we'll do that when DD gets older.

My UO is that as hard as I try and as many times I re-watch an episode, I can not get into Gilmore Girls.

Assiram42

Did I kill the thread?

MotherofDragons

@Assiram42 No, I just have been asleep for two
hours. 

My UO: I am excited and pumped to labor. I am weird. 

Edit: spelling 

Assiram42

MotherofDragons said:

@Assiram42 No, I just have been asleep for teo
hours. 

My UO: I am excited and pumped to labor. I am weird. 

Jealous!

FSUNole31

I love reading these and loving comments, but I am lame and can never come up with one of my own.  I am much better at confessing on fridays.  

JessyKV

I also refuse to do Elf on the Shelf but mainly because I'm lazy and it seems overwhelming to me.  

I kind of love silly old wives tales for the sex of the baby.  I think guessing is fun. I don't mind when people post those types of questions.  I found out with my first and team green with my second so I've done it both ways.  I'm also one of the odd ones and old wives tales have been correct for me.  I know it's a coincidence and by no means do I think it's science but to me it's good old fun.  

silliegirlie143

My UO:
I hate most Christmas carols. I hate radio stations playing nothing but holiday music from Thanksgiving until Christmas. I hate going anywhere and hearing Christmas music has taken the place of regular Muzak for a month.
HATE HATE HATE

But I felt weirdly defensive when a morning radio show blasted "Mary Did You Know" as being pompous and irritating...

mkrel

My UO: I don't really care who tells who that I'm pregnant.  My MIL was so concerned that she spilled the beans to DHs brother, who we rarely talk to, and I just don't care. My Mom is also on my case because I haven't told my brothers. They do not live nearby, and I am waiting for the results of my NIPT before I say anything. I told her if it's bothering her so much she can tell them! 
I guess I just see so many people upset because the news gets out and I don't get it! I also have a very small family so it's not like the news would spread like wildfire and maybe that is why. 

kfry22

I don't know if this is unpopular or not but I'm not planning on giving huge amounts of gifts to my kids for Christmas. I'm more about practical, useful gifts. My mom has always and will always go way above and beyond with gifts. My brother and I would get about 8-10 gifts a piece, with multiple things in each package. We always had to have the same number of packages to open so it was "fair". And she would complain about how much shopping and wrapping she had, although she brought it on her self. 

I I plan to do the 4 gift method with my children. Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read. I hope that makes them appreciate Christmas gifts more. We are going to start it next year as my one year old probably won't understand the concept of Christmas this year just yet.  

doodleoodle

kassyfry said:

I don't know if this is unpopular or not but I'm not planning on giving huge amounts of gifts to my kids for Christmas. I'm more about practical, useful gifts. My mom has always and will always go way above and beyond with gifts. My brother and I would get about 8-10 gifts a piece, with multiple things in each package. We always had to have the same number of packages to open so it was "fair". And she would complain about how much shopping and wrapping she had, although she brought it on her self. 

I I plan to do the 4 gift method with my children. Something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read. I hope that makes them appreciate Christmas gifts more. We are going to start it next year as my one year old probably won't understand the concept of Christmas this year just yet.  

Yes! 

I've been feeling guilty because I've seriously been considering not getting my DD anything for Christmas. She's only 13 months old and doesn't have any siblings who will know the difference either. I'd rather save for DH to take FMLA time when the baby is born. He's the provider for our family and I know it would mean more to DD to have him home for as long as possible during that transition. I'm sure we'll end up getting her something though. I love the 4 gifts idea!

JessyKV

@Mother0fDragons I'm excited to labor too.  Like almost obsessed. 

@kassyfry my kids are 2 and almost 4 and we are doing a very minimal Christmas as well.  Part of it is because they get so many gifts from grandparents and other family and it's overwhelming.  Also we won't be home for Christmas to do our own individual exchange so we would have to lug and hide presents and we don't have room in our car.  Plus both have them have a birthday a month away from Christmas (one before and one after) so I end up packing away stuff and brining it out later . I want Christmas to be about experiences, traditions and giving.  Santa and presents are a special part of that as well but I think it's ok to keep it simple and them loving a few things from us.  

jc_twomamas

@kassyfry we do the same. Need, want (subjective as he's 20 months), read and wear. Although we are doing "santa" gift and stocking as well (stockings in our house are 100% practical...socks, toothbrush/paste, undies, water bottle, etc.) 

kfry22

@JessyKV and @doodleoodle
Im being a pretty terrible mom for Christmas this year as it is because I'm giving my one year old toys I bought at used at Goodwill. I was in there on a half price Saturday and scored two huge boxes of the die cast metal farm tractor toys, tractors that make noise and move by pushing buttons on top, and the big plastic grain bins that are all built buy Ertel. For $20 for each box. My husband estimates that I got about $400-500 worth of toy tractors.  We live in a rural area surrounded by farms and my son loves toys with wheels. So, these will be perfect. And they will be his only Christmas gifts. 

JessyKV

@kassyfry that sounds smart not terrible to me!! 

I mi got a bunch of toys at a consignment sale this summer and it's some of my kids favorite things. 

jc_twomamas

@kassyfry DS's "Santa" gift is a kitchen with accessories I bought off a swap site for $30! His "wear" are size 2t spring/summer clothes that I picked up at a children's consignment store (and then Xmas eve jammies I bought from kohls for $5.00). I'm all about the deals. I don't see the purpose paying full price if I can find gently (or not even) used for a steal! The kitchen is from a Grandparents house which their grandkids hardly used! They needed to sell it because they were moving. Boom! 

halfthetree

@Mother0fDragons  That was going to be mine!!

I really enjoyed labor and birth. I'm a birth doula, and just really love that amazing, magic time. Plus I get to experience birthing two babies in one go... so cool!!

delujm0

I doubt we'll spend more than $50 on Christmas gifts for DD...the grandparents go nuts and she just has so much stuff, it's ridiculous.  she is 17 months old.  she doesn't even know what's going on.

She does really like the tree though.

zseirecarg

@Wino0920 @Elyse1384 right there with you on Teen Mom. Can't stop watching no matter how many times I say I am going to!

LMMama

Maybe I have the unpopular Christmas opinion that we have always liked getting a bunch of gifts for each other and DD. I got tons of presents when I was young on xmas but I also understand how important and enjoyable it is to give. I'm positive I can teach my DD to be generous towards others, enjoy family and traditions, while also having Santa give her whatever practical and non practical items are on her 4-year-old list. 

kahlan82

This is really more of an UO for North Carolina. I do not care in the least about the basketball rivalry. All I hear nonstop at work, on TV, on cars etc Is Duke vs. UNC....I painted a bedroom light blue and all I heard was "oh you painted it Carolina Blue." No it's just blue. I appreciate the passion being a rabid hockey fan but I am sick of hearing it.

delujm0

@kahlan82 I live in nc but am from nj and I truly don't understand the obsession with college basketball either.  who cares.  I'm not in Raleigh so its not quite as bad here, but still.  I follow my Alma Mater because I feel like that makes sense but I don't get why people are into teams of schools neither they nor any member of their family has attended.  college sports just weren't really a thing where I grew up unless you went to that college.  people just followed professional teams.