I came from a poor family, so did my husband and our parents. We never looked for charity at Christmas or any other time. I think people need to really think about what is most important, not a ton of toys, getting a video game or all that other popular stuff. I've found most children delight to getting anything, from a homemade doll, even a made doll bed.
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I totally agree with you, Gepe. But, times are different now, parents are different, and so are the children. Children today seem to need to be entertained all the time by electronics. I, too, remember the oatmeal container doll cradle and my dad made me a car for my dolls from a shoe box! My grandma made homemade ornaments every year and when I married I got to take all of mine for my own tree. One year, in addition to my homemade ornament I received a new hair brush. It was a simpler lifestyle then; many of todays young people seem spoiled and seem to expect everything. It seems that the quantity of gifts is a goal and many go into credit card debt to achieve that.
One of my favorite things to play with at my grandmothers house was a doll and it's "cradle" made out of a tomato crate. If I remember correctly the blankets were paper towels.
i would like to say every year while our kids were growing up,we never had much money but let me say they love handmade items,so it is a tradition now every gift must be handmade,they are now 24,21,19 and i have a 3 year old grandchubba,all he gets is handmade,i suppose it must be the way you are brought up glenda
AMEN!!!!!!!!
Oh how right you are! This post brings back such memories. I came from a poor family with 2 sisters and 2 brothers. Mom ALWAYS made sure we had one nice gift which for us girls was a new doll. Those dolls had the most extensive wardrobes, created from my mother's loving hands.She must have stayed up half the night making the clothes for those three dolls It was my aunt who made us the cradles from oatmeal boxes with the nicest blanket you could want.
I totally agree with you! I was raised as you were & our children were raised on Cotton Mill wages which weren't much. We never went without I didn't think because we had each other and their love and that was enough!
I totally agree with all of you about the simpler things. But I for one have a DD who is almost 6yrs old, and thinks she needs video games for Christmas and birthday. I try to teach her that we cant have everything we want, because it is just not in our budget. I taught her what a budget is. She appreciates anything and everything she gets, even if it isnt what she really wanted and begged for. My sister made Christmas stockings one year for all the kids in our families, spent alot of time cross stitching Pooh characters on them with the kids' names, and my 2 spoiled nephews did not appreciate them or thank her.
I notice there are no kids agreeing with this kind of thinking, but I'm old and cranky and I agree.
I am 25 years old, and I feel things have changed a lot even since I was a small child. I played outside, I never had video games. I wrote and crafted. I'm an only child and I managed to keep myself entertained just fine. I never went without the things I needed. No expensive toy could replace all of the great memories I have of making paper chains with my mom or helping her bake blueberry muffins Christmas morning.
When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. (very simple but true) Just remember that when Christmas rolls around, and especially if you've lost anything...or anyBODY special in your life.
I totally agree!!!!! I am a kid writing this and our family never had much money, but always made sure we had a good Christmas. When I was eight, my mother made each of us kids a wooden chest and painted our names on it and another year she made me a nightgown and painted my name. Those handmade gifts were the best. Keep in mind you can always buy a pet. I got finches last year and they are great!!!
I also say amen! Several years ago our daughter and children saved money to buy gifts for a needy family, when they delivered them as requested, the house was so packed with presents and lots of items her children couldn't even imagine having or asking for. "Things" don't make for a meaningful Christmas, love does. It's sad that "stuff" is replacing so much in life. What a hollow existance lies ahead for some people.
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