Christmas Gift Ideas

My mom & I were discussing this in the car this morning. I said that if I had kids I’d still buy them gifts on Christmas but that "meaning of Christmas" crap & all those horrid decorations would be left out…

I am actually celebrating Winter Solstice. And that includes gift giving to family and friends.

Since Winter Solstice & Christmas celebrations look so similar, most people assume I am celebrating Christmas, and I don’t bother telling anyone otherwise.

There is a lot of prejidice and open hostility against non-Christians, so in my everyday life I just keep it to myself.

And Christmas has been turned into a "damned if you do, damned if you don’t" holiday for non-believers.

If you wish someone a "Happy Holiday" or let it be known that you don’t celebrate Christmas then you are accused of "waging war" against Christians, Christianity and Jesus Christ himself. If you try to join in the Christmas celebration and utter the word Christmas, and someone finds out your AREN’T a Christian, you are called a hypocrit, and told you have NO RIGHT to celebrate Christmas, because you aren’t a Christian.

So much for "peace on earth, good will toward men".

I have 2 children ages 8 (girl) and 6 (boy). I lost my job in April and have been struggling to make ends meet on one income. My husband and I recently took in his brother’s family after they lost their home in October.Now we have 7 people living on 1 income. If you can help or know where I can get help please let me know. Happy holidays and God Bless.

Register with your local Salvation Army. We have a tree with families names printed on the front of paper ornaments with what they need on the back. Then, donars choose a family and what they have to give to match those needs. Then register your children with the Toys for Tots program. The marines collect the toys, but in my area the Jaycees distribute them. One other suggestion. Check with your local food bank. Ours is really running short and we are already taking advanced, first come, first served reservations for food boxes of Thanksgiving items. We’re not sure we will have enough to go around this year and so we are trying to coordinate with the other area charities that actually serve meals to get everyone covered. Good luck.

How many gifts are appropriate for your kids at Christmas?? I have a 9 and 6 yr old and want Christmas to be exciting yet I don’t want to go crazy. I have heard of three to represent the 3 gifts given to Jesus but I am curious what most families do.

Mona, I appreciate you’re desire to keep the children focused on the real meaning of Christmas. Too may gifts reallt spoil the fun. We’ve always had stockings even for the older folks since its a time to have fun opening inexpensive presents that are just fun. Then we keep the big presents (like toys) down to three per child. That way they can really enjoy them. We get clothes too but that’s not such an exciting gift for the younger ones.

I babysit two little girls-ages 4 and 2 1/2- they have everything a child could want, I don’t know what to get them for Christmas. I am a college student so my budget is kinda small.

Thanks

You can make them necklaces or bracelets and I bet they would love them… I know if they have everything don’t bother with more toys. Silly socks or buy a reasonably priced dvd for both of them. A Christmas book that you can read to them. Maybe even a puzzle that is age appropriate that you can work on with them when you babysit.

I will always tell my kids their only gift is a roof over their head. Things shouldn’t just be handed to you.

It isn’t the act of giving that should be questioned, but more the gifts that are given.

I like to give my kids gifts that we can use and do together. And they love to give too. We like to make gifts for everyone and it’s actually more fun to see the look on a child’s giving face than it is to see a look on a child’s receiving face.

We just love homemade gifts and not just for Christmas. I especially love gifts that include pictures. Giving a memory and a smile is worth everything to me!

I found this easy to use product where you can actually make

a calendar
a deck of cards
flashcards
memory cards

and all you have to do is add your own pictures and print.

This year I am making all my nephews their own set of memory cards with pictures of everyone in our family playing together! I’m going to get them laminated so they can last through spills and baby’s mouths, etc.

It’s so easy anyone can do it, even me
And the second the product arrives in your inbox is the same second you can start using it.

Visit http://www.squidoo.com/memorieslearningfun
and you’ll be on your way to unique gifts.

Consumerism, especially overconsumerism, should be questioned, but giving is a wonderful thing to teach our children.

She says that when they have kids then she will stop giving to them. I feel she should give to all of us or not at all. Either way would be better.

I agree with your mom. In a perfect world nobody would have a budget, and I’m sure it’s not the best feeling to see your other siblings get gifts, but as a parent your gifts now go to your children. It’s not the most fair way, but it does keep the gift-giving budget under control, ya know?

I was just wondering if there were maybe some charities out there that can help us out this year for christmas gifts for our children. We both lost our jobs and things have been really hard just barely making enough to keep a roof over our heads. If anyone has any ideas please e-mail me back Thank you Michelle

We are making gifts and returning to the true meaning of Christmas .

This seems like the proper time to fore-go the crass commercial event and
Teach the kids about the meaning .
Make things for other people , have cooking potlucks and get into winter activities .

Trying to buy junk this year just seems obscene .

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I was on youtube getting into the Christmas spirit by watching kids open their gifts … but some walked into the room and their gifts were not wrapped. Why is this? I remember the joy on Christmas morning of ripping into the gits … that’s why its so much fun.
Its not that they were too big … in a couple of videos the kids went downstairs and all their gifts were unwrapped on the sofa.
Even as an adult I still wrap all my gifts.

Some people say Santa doesn’t wrap gifts. He always wraps them for my house. I’ve been told this is crazy. Some people have ther kids gifts from them wrapped and Santa gifts aren’t. We have all gifts wrapped at my house.

Want to send my niece and nephew some cool, hard to find presents from America.

Thank you!

Hannah Montana items and Disney’s High School Musical items are very popular right now.

We would like some ideas on kinds of Christmas gifts we can "make" for the children’s parents ages 1st- 5th grade…please be specific about your ideas….thank you.

I made a little poem about a snowman took an envelope of hot chocolate and a candy cane in a card last year. Most of the parents loved it

The year before I gave in and did the spice in jar thing