“Crystal’s Soapbox,” published each Thursday, is a column by conservative Texas mom Crystal Arcand who loves to rant about issues that relate to her kids….and yours.
I’ve never understood the concept of going into debt to buy a multitude of gifts for children. It’s not that I love my children any less than other parents. I think it’s that I love them enough to teach them moderation, thoughtfulness in gift-giving, and being a good steward of my money.
I stood amazed as I read the note posted in the Wal-Mart toy aisle detailing the distribution of 50 ZhuZhu pets per day on a first-come, first-serve basis during the three days before Christmas. I could picture in my mind the people waiting on line to be the “first-served” and the ensuing fights over who was “first-come.” And what for? A toy that sends people into cute comas.
I aim for three gifts for each of my children each year at Christmas. I figure if three gifts were enough for the Christ-child, then surely it must be good enough for my own children. I firmly believe that children (and adults, for that matter) should be taught that everything is best enjoyed in moderation. Want chocolate? By all means, eat a piece of cake or have a piece of candy. Just don’t eat the whole blooming cake! Sure, I’ll give you a gift, but a dozen? No. Three is more than one. Three is good. You will live with three, thankyouverymuch.
When gifts are limited to three, thoughtless buying goes out the window. There is no more of the “well, if he doesn’t like this gift, he’s sure to like one of these other 15 gifts I bought” mentality. You don’t sling gifts at the kids and see if a couple of them stick. You study your child, get to know him, and actually think about what you’re plunking your money down to get. Or you actually make a gift. Try it – I guarantee you’ll feel much happier seeing his face light up when he opens the gift that makes his heart soar knowing you were really thinking of him when you went shopping.
Our economy is on the blink. Banks fail on a near-daily basis. We complain about not having enough money for anything. But suddenly Christmas is upon us and the wallets fly open. Granted, they’ll still be closed tight when it comes to helping others, and we’ll complain when buying needful things, but getting Christmas gifts for kids – well, that’s different. “It’s for the kids. I want them to have a good Christmas. blah, blah, blah, blah…” How about this? Budget your Christmas like you do everything else, then make Christmas great for your kids by spending your time on them instead of the money you don’t have.
This year, during the rush to shop, open gifts, and drink the eggnog, make it a point to pause for a moment with your kids and enjoy the magic of family. Of time. And a little boy born 2000 years ago.
Yep, I went there. Merry Christmas.
