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Moms of 2+
Are you attempting to keep things even for Christmas?
My parents always were obsessed with keeping things even, but honestly? It seems like a total waste! Everything on Lanna's list is $30-$100. I'm getting her 6 things and I spent $250 on her! In the meantime, one of the bigger things I wanted for Wes was that train set and I ended up getting it on sale for $19. Number wise, he's got about 7 things so far, but they total less than $75.
Part of me feels guilty, but then when Lanna was his age I didn't go overboard on Christmas either. And I'm sure at some point I'll have to stretch a little more to accommodate Wes's wish list, but for now he doesn't have any expectations. Plus, toys for kids under 2 are just simpler (and cheaper) than all of this crazy robotic and character crap they sell for the 5+ crew.
Thoughts?
Re: Moms of 2+
Nope. Not right now anyway. The little ones won't notice, and to be honest, Jake probably won't either.
Don't stress your self out over it!!
Jake - 1.15.08
Liam - 5.17.11
True that! Every time Lanna adds another overpriced toy to her list and I try to tell her it's too $$, she just shifts it over to her Santa list. Clearly Santa has no budget. Baby Butterscotch better be able to clean my house, that's all I'm saying.
For right now, I'm going to try to keep things the same number-wise...because that's what makes sense to Brinley. I don't want her to feel like she got less, because she doesn't get the concept of stuff costing more.
However, I too feel the mom guilt for my poor second child who always seems to get the shaft and may try to make up the difference with an extra contribution to Nolan's savings account.
That's a really good idea. The girls lists are not even in cost and I've been trying to figure out what to do.
At this age, it's not something we worry about. Mason is older, has specific toys that he wants/needs, gets more use out of his toys, etc. Garrett is at an age where he might enjoy playing with certain things, but at the end of the day, he would really play with anything that you put in front of him. So I feel like at this point we are Christmas shopping for what types of toys, etc. that we need as a family. I do not feel guilty about this at all, I am more concerned with keeping savings accounts and things like that equal vs. toys they receive. (I'm not crazy about the idea of when it comes time to use their savings as an adult, they have less because they got more new toys as a 2 year old.)
As they get older, we will be fair in the amount that we spend. That being said, we won't make a big deal about being even-Steven, because I don't want that to be something that rubs off on them. If our kids get upset b/c we spent $50 more on one vs. the other or because one of them got 10 things while the other got 12...well, let's just say Santa will not react kindly if that happens!
I get that, but to more of an extreme. EJ's birthday is 24 days before christmas.
But I tend to make up for it by random present buying in teh summer when she gets nothing new.
I plan to. But I don't know how to go about it. We want to get DS1 a LeapPad but that will pretty much be all he gets...except a few stocking stuffers and maybe a couple of new outfits.
With DS2 I have no idea what I can even get him because, honestly, I have so many things he has aged into. And I really don't need to purchase a lot of clothing for him because the hand me downs from DS1 work most of the time. I'm really at a loss and I think whatever we do get DS2 will end up being something both boys will be able to use/play with. I can't think of any big gifts to get him but there really aren't a lot of little gifts either since DS1 was spoiled with just about everything imaginable by grandparents, great-grandparents, and the like.
That is why Santa brings 1 special toy.
( maybe bonus small items if that "big" item is not all that much. Like last year all he wanted was a $10 Thomas movie so Santa also brought a train and a $20 Robot that he last minuted decided was what he should have asked for...)
My mom was to the penny. still is and if she isnt she has to justify why. Her BFF when we were kids would do it by number of gifts which for her 3 kids was more important. It used to make my mom nuts that she'd spend $500 on one and $200 on another.
My mom would be like-" Now remember you only got 2 things because you wanted a stereo" then numnber of items never bothered me, I knew the "value' of what i asked for- not when i was 5 maybe, but you know...
Married, September 23, 2006
I second Jeffssnickerdoodle, since our kids get presents from three sets of grandparents, aunts, auncles, friends, we feel that at this age, more than one santa present is redundant and gratuitous, and honestly, where the hell do people put all this crap!!!!
When my sisters and i were older and really got into santa (I'd say the 5-10) range i think we got more presents and they were always equal usually ~6/piece.