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Parenting
This was bound to happen, right?! (and a vent!)
I mean, I think every parent has had this happen at one point or another. The last three days, Joey and Cam will not stop talking about wanting........ready? A Nintendo DSi.
FFS!
We are done shopping for them. Like, SO done. Yet we are both total SUCKERS! We want to fulfill their every desire. It's just how we are. And now, I will carry around this "guilt" daily until Christmas Day. And pray that I don't cave before then. I just keep reminding myself they have PLENTY (more than plenty) and will be PSYCHED with what they get (because I know they will be).
But I now wish I had stuck to my guns (Joe was the one that wanted to take them off the list) and bought those instead a few of the other things we got.
Oh well. I will not buy them. I won't. Right?!
Hell, I spent freaking $500 yesterday on NOTHING! I wanted to puke when I got home. $135 on groceries, $55 at the pet store, $65 in my gas tank. Two $50 gift cards (so two Christmas presents done!). I got Joey and Cam some pajamas (they would rather just wear their underwear however the past month or so, Joey has been wearing pajamas and his are from like 2-3 years ago (since he doesn't normally wear them, I haven't bought any)). That plus some new boxers for Joe's stocking - $75. RIDICULOUS! Why is everything so damn expensive!??!
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Re: This was bound to happen, right?! (and a vent!)
Don't do it!!!
Seriously, don't.
I am struggling with the same thing. Everytime she mentions the gift she "wants" I am literally changing the subject. I know come Christmas morning, she will be stoked with what she's getting.
DO NOT CAVE
Trust me, Tucker did the same thing. We have had his list set for months. And then the other day he asked for a Nintendo DS3-d (or whatever it is)
And as much as I wish I could get my kids everything, I DO NOT feel bad about not even considering this. He has a DS. It works fine. He doesn't need another one.
JODI!!!!
Stop, you are being farking ridiculous...this is EPITOME of 1st world problem and kinda gross, really.
Your kids won't care...and if they do its because youv'e spoiled them too much and maybe it will be good for them to not get EVERYTHING their little hearts desire...they are getting PLENTY and do not need it.
On top of it....WHAT are they going to do on the DS that they can't do on the touch that htey are getting?? I mean essentially they will be mostly playing games on the touch right? no kid needs TWO hand held gaming systems....
don't do it.
DD's therapist likes to remind me on a regular basis that giving her everything she could ever want is one of the worst things I could do for her. Fulfilling their every desire is setting them up for failure as adults. Teaching them to be happy with what they have is a far greater lesson for them in the long run.
Why do you feel guilty? I think I would worry more about the long term effects of my kids growing up thinking that they can really have everything they want. Maybe that's just because I've had to fight tooth and nail to keep OTHER people from spoiling DD beyond control because of everything that's happened to her?
I agree with the others. Don't do it.
I need to keep reminding myself that I did not feel slighted growing up and we got 3 things each year...and one thing was always pajamas. And, I did not always get the gift a really, really wanted.....it turns out the world did not end when I did not get my pound puppy. ;-)
photos by jennied photography
Alissa Jean
9.10.2004
Don't do it!
DD asked for Hello Kitty stuff. I have gone way overboard with the hello kitty sh!t. Then to a DIFFERENT Santa she said she wanted a Barbie van and a slushy machine.
Good thing I got the Barbie van when it was on sale a few weeks ago. She is not getting a freaking slushy machine. I'm done. And if I see another Santa, I'm running.
There are always last minute ideas/requests. I just tell them, Ooops, we sent the letter to Santa, maybe for your birthday or next Christmas.
BE STRONG.
How the hell do spend $75 on underwear?
This.
this
Yes, this. DD1 asked me for a DS last week and I told her its not going to happen. We have an iPad that the girls are allowed to play on once in awhile and IMO, that's more than enough technology for a 4 year old. Kids don't need to get everything they ask for. I very rarely ever got that one thing I REALLY wanted when I was a kid and I'm certainly not scarred from it.
Annelise 3.22.2007 Norah 10.24.2009 Amelia 8.7.2011
This mentality is not just exclusive to Joey/Cam. This is my personality. I want EVERYONE to be hap-hap-happy!
I got three pairs of boxers ($21), Cam got 5 new pj sets ($27) and Joey got 3 new sets ($18). Add in tax and the loofah sponge I got Cam and we're at $75. And honestly, I was stoked about their pajamas - 8 new sets for $5.50 each. That's damn good. But still adds up!
Joseys - add Christmas shopping to the list of programs that I need 12 steps for! LOL
I have that people pleaser personality as well, and I feel guilty also if we don't get every little thing. I think we're lucky though because my kids are still fairly young (2&4) and don't ask for alot yet.
But, DS really really wanted the DSi forever, so we got it for him one day, out of the blue, since he had been extra good about a lot of things. The look on his face that day was priceless, I'll never forget it. I think if we had gotten it for his birthday or xmas, it wouldn't have gotten that reaction becuase it was expected.
And strangly, his behavior has done a complete 180. I think now he realizes that if he's extra good, helpful or whatever, we'll notice and he'll get a little treat like a new game for it or something.
photos by jennied photography
Alissa Jean
9.10.2004
So this was Joe's line of thinking. And I can see that. And I'm sure Cam will be totally into the Touch. I know with 100% certainty they will both be PSYCHED Christmas morning - with or without a DSi.
However lately Joey has been wanting to play the DS. He has been using Joe's - the only one that still works. And intermittently at that. He wants Mario Kart 7. And they've been discussing the different models (funny b/c Cam says "I just want a regular one!" and Joey says "Not a DSi or a 3D one?" They are too cute!) The Touch doesn't have Mario Bros, Mario Kart, etc. I really need to research more apps for them. They have Angry Birds, preschool lunchbox, fruit ninja, cut the rope. And they are tiring of them.
It is just a whim. And they will be fine without it. But I LOVE bangin' Christmases! Like over the top spoiled ones. Growing up, it was really the one time a year that my parents went all out. And it was so special for all of us. Of course, it's NOT the one time a year that Joe and I go all out so......
Ok, don't do it. Or do it. Your choice. But I will tell you, as the spouse of a person who "got everything" and had "all out blowout Christmases", it totally stinks trying to reign my husband in every year....we fight nonstop about it. I think a few items they REALLY want is better than a pile of stuff. And a nice breakfast together with some Christmas music is better than any gift!
I grew up with not a lot of money, and can tell you each and every "special" gift I ever got (a bike, the Barbie Dream house, etc) because they were few and far between. I can also tell you that I loved hanging out with my parents and brothers far more than any gift under the tree....because there weren't a lot.
I know it's hard, but for Joey and Cam's future spouses think about it.....:)