That sort of money on a kid is just stupid! My little niece is an only child and spoiled but she doesn’t have that much wasted on her. I do know that as with many kids and like myself when I was a child, the toys just get left up the corner when she’s fed up. As said before, you shouldn’t have to buy the smiles of your child.

The tree featured heavily in the Christmas celebration when I was very young. My older sister and I would play under it, and I would hang two or three Christmas balls on one hook, calling them ‘Bobs’.

Christmas taught me how to wait for things when I was young (about 6).

Children can be ‘given a smile’ with little expense if you get them things they like, such as if they are into hot wheels, a few two dollar cars. Artists can be pleased by a 64 pack box of crayons and bulk paper! Bicycles can be bought second hand. Balls too can please.

Yes it is shameful that we have become so materialistis[SIC] BUT people need to keep in mind that we have over the last few generations manifested the world and expectations that we now nest in. I understand this families pain and the parents stress. Every loving parent has that dire need to see their childs smiling face and hear their laughter of happiness. No loving parent wants to see them wake up Christmas morning with a look of sadness, disappointment and the thought of “why dont I deserve anything”. I, like everyone else is struggling and am so thankful that I will have a few dollars to buy that smile I get on Christmas morning. This is a time when we should all look out for the next person, no matter what race, background, financial class or status they are in. Maybe this is God’s way of bringing us back down to earth.

I was just thinking. I’ve been watching Suze Orman. If these parents were truly smart they’d get the kid a toy or two and invest the rest of the money for the kid’s future. I don’t want to hear them whining about how they can’t save up for college or afford college for their kid when they’re spending their kid’s college tuition every gift giving season.

@Hillari: Sorry about your being downsized. I have to say it’s a relief not to have kids at this time. I also keep reading stories about people who are behind on bills or feeling the pinch… yet they follow by saying they have four or five kids and are upset because they won’t be able to give them as many presents…

@Lurker – thanks! We’re going to have a Christmas very much like yours Quiet and peaceful and guilt-free!

@Explosive – ” We continue to get each other pretty practical stuff (my husband is begging for work socks, I want a new butcher’s knife, Dad like’s “old man” sweaters, Mom wants tee-shirts) and enjoy the family time around the tree ripping open paper and hugging each other after receiving that “perfect” gift.”
This is just what we used to do! Now that I live in Toronto and my parents, brothers and sisters are in England, and it’s expensive to travel home at Christmas we can’t get to be all around the tree, but my husband and I do have fun with our own gift – unwrapping around the tree. And, would you just guess… he wants slippers Can’t get more practical than that…lol.

Sebastyne — the surprise element is so important. Also not having to be pressured into getting something expensive just because it’s expensive. People forget it’s the thought that counts… or maybe it isn’t for some people.

@boxermom – If a parent feels less guilty by spending MORE money, then I doubt very much that the buck stops at Christmas….I’m willing to wager that child gets gobs of gifts for every occasion and maybe even no occasion at all!

That’s very likely. I mean, why stop at Christmas…

@Lauren – I agree.. it’s interesting when I was reading the comments on the original article, there were quite a few posters saying those that didn’t feel sorry for these parents were…not nice. In many of the comments it seemed that as long as it was spending for kids the parents were right and “shouldn’t mind all those who had no sympathy for them.”

@dogand music lover – With parents like that, that boy is in for more problems. That stuff will cost well over $1000 – without accessories. I sometimes wonder if it’s the parents way of easing their own guilt. As for the Christmas being for children…makes me want to puke too. Of course it’s a good hook for commercialization… if people aren’t going to buy stuff for themselves you can be sure they will buy into the hype of getting expensive junk for their kiddies. The entire message of Christmas is missed – if it was ever understood in the first place.

Breeders are so pathetic.

It was great to look up this blog and once more find the comfort in the comments from the rest of you.

X-mas is ME-time and I look forward to not be hanging around with unsatisfied breeders! Isn`t it funny how other people can try to make you troubled simply because you chose smarter?

During x-mas I become even more glad to not have joined the parent group. It must be sad to waste you time and money on meaningless activties like buying nonsence to someone who already got everything. The greates miracle of x-mas is how grown-up people get sucked into the hysteria of living up to the “demands” of modern x-mas.

I am sure shopping for x-mas (and the larger the better), removes the unsatisfactory feeling parenting often leads to, but as always the fun has to be payed for sooner or even worse later. Still I think the parents excuse their own spending with the same attitude they excuse their sometimes bad manner, its all for their kids…!

As said before I dont hate kids. But the redicilous mentality of todays world is annoying me more for every day. When are those breeder-robots going to see where our consumer lifestyle is leading us??

It is pure pleasure to spend the money on myself and eat the food I like, sleep long, watch the x-mas movie once more and just have peace. Throwing a child, the child`s friends or parents of other children into this sacret harmony would simply just ruin a very good time.

Of course I remember very little detail of the presents I’ve gotten through the years but vividly remember sitting around the tree with my parents, sisters, and dogs, sipping hot chocolate and cinnamon rolls, opening our gifts one at a time, discussing them, laughing, and saying thank you. We continue to get each other pretty practical stuff (my husband is begging for work socks, I want a new butcher’s knife, Dad like’s “old man” sweaters, Mom wants tee-shirts) and enjoy the family time around the tree ripping open paper and hugging each other after receiving that “perfect” gift.

The time we spent together was more precious than the actual stuff received and I think that is what far too many people (not just parents) forget.

I don’t see our Christmas celebration gotten any less of an event even though me and my brother are grown up and there is NO children celebrating with us. it is still just as awesome to have everyone (who is still alive) over and spend that few hours with them. Before that it is a lot of fun trying to find that special gift that each of them will enjoy, regardless of the price tag attached. With children, you need to buy the latest and the greatest, they all pretty much want the same thing anyway, so where’s the challenge apart from coming up with the money and getting a better gift than their friends will get!