I have been done with my Christmas shopping for a few weeks now. Presents are wrapped and under the tree and the kids have very good about leaving them alone and admiring from afar.
I was thinking the other day how much Christmas shopping has changed, at least for me and in my mind. I remember when both sides of my family used to draw names for Christmas presents amongst all the aunts and uncles and the kids. The excitement of shopping for those gifts was so fun. You would go out and shop for someone already knowing a few items that they truly wanted, but didn't have and wouldn't be buying for themselves. It was exciting to get a wish list from people or their family members (if you asked them for ideas instead). It was exciting to watch them open a present that you knew that had been wishing for.
Oh how things have changed.
I find it really hard to find items now where I feel that I am not just buying them more "stuff". What can I buy them that they haven't already went out and purchased? I truly enjoy the joy of giving, but when I give a gift I want it to be something that someone wants or needs. I am as much at fault as the next person in this. If I want something I go out and buy it. At least kids are still easy to buy for.
Eventually both families stopped drawing names for gifts because there just wasn't anything left to buy people or it got to expensive to buy a gift someone would really want. Our families now bring grab bag type gifts and play games at the Christmas parties. They now have the joy of playing the game and the laughs that are shared. I guess I wouldn't trade that for "stuff"!
No comments:
Post a Comment