The Kids are Getting NOTHING for Christmas

It’s that time of year: Christmas.

Conversations around the perfect gift are beginning to circulate like wildfire. Every Facebook mom group has a thread (or more) about “best gift ideas for my 5-month-old” and every blogger has a holiday gift guide (including me). Some families take the low-key approach with setting a small budget ($50, $100), others choose to do the 4 gift thing, and some just go all out. But, when it comes to my kids and my family, I’m skipping the gifts this year.

That’s right my fellow readers, the kids aren’t getting any gifts this year. I bought a few gifts and I returned them. 

Disclosure: I know this is a great blog post but like any working mama, I use affiliate links to earn a referral commission. This post is not exempt. Click at your own risk. 

Why?

1. We don’t need them.
2. We are moving into a Tiny Home. 
3. That’s not what Christmas is about.
4. I’m terribly impatient with the gift-giving thing.
5. They need it now, not on December 24.

Seriously, it’s overrated.

Every year I dread the process of trying to find the perfect gift for someone. Every year, I dread receiving gifts that just don’t work for me – like a basket full of soaps, a box full of dip mixes, or clothing that just doesn’t fit.

Am I the Grinch?

No, I’m not the Grinch who stole Christmas, I’m just the mom who realises that buying shit for her kids this Christmas season only buys into the over consumerist nature of the season.

I buy my kids toys when they need them, not because of some holiday. But rather because my child is developmentally ready for that next stage or game.

My toddler has been ready for free train play (compared to our train board) for some time now, and it kills me inside waiting for Christmas to give him his train set. So, fuck that, I’m giving him the train set now. Why wait? Why wait? 

I thought I’d give the baby some new clothes for Christmas, but she outgrew her current size this week. Therefore, she’s getting new clothes now. Not in 6 weeks time. 

Experience the Holiday

Don’t give the holiday, experience it.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say again, I need experiences and companion ever. I need less things, and I need more time with the friends and family I love.

So skip buying me a gift from the dollar store this year, and come over for a visit. The long winter nights are not made better by bath soaps and scarves, but rather your company.

My kids are still young and they won’t notice they didn’t get any gifts this year. They will remember spending the day with family and friends. They will remember mom being happy, and stress-free, worrying about the gift giving situation. And hey, I’m trying to figure out if we can travel to Jasper or McBride, or Prince Rupert for the holiday season instead. That’ll be a memory we’ll all remember, even more than the set of trains I picked out. 

And that’s exactly what matters to me. Giving gifts to my children doesn’t make me happy. So let’s do no Christmas gifts and let’s celebrate with pancakes and hot chocolate.