Hellobee Boards

I don't think I could, or would ever totally cancel Christmas since we celebrate it for the birth of Jesus! I do think there can probably be a better balance on the emphasis placed on recieving vs giving. A good thing going for us is that neither of our families are big on gift giving so I'm hoping DD won't get into the habit of expecting big gifts this time of the year.

They're not cancelling Christmas; they just aren't giving their kids gifts. If entitlement ever became big enough of an issue, I can see DH and I cancelling gifts. But I also feel like if such drastic measures needed to be taken then there is a bigger issue that needs to be tackled in day to day life. Canceling Christmas gifts isn't going to solve that problem.

This is one of my problems with Christmas morning. My in laws like to give quantity over quality. Last year was just crazy and DD1 (2.5 at the time) got upset when she was done opening her presents and her cousins were still opening theirs. Christmas morning or not, DD1 got a chance to stop her behavior. It left DH and I very frustrated because we hate that entitlement behavior. But on the other hand, she was only 2. So how much did she really understand? She's 3.5 this year and we have been talking and actively participating in giving activities to nip it in the butt.

On a day to day basis she is very good about asking who bought xyz and then immediately saying thank you, giving hugs etc. We will see what happens this year on Christmas!

I support this family, entitlement over the holidays is a problem with our family and I try to think of ways to make it about generosity and family time and The Savior, not just getting stuff.

I see nothing wrong this. Christmas shouldn't be about gifts anyways, and this family isn't taking any of the "spirit" away from the holidays.

Here is the actual blog post (and follow up post) about it:

http://overthebigmoon.com/why-my-husband-and-i-cancelled-christmas/

http://overthebigmoon.com/canceling-christmas-results/

I could definitely not do any gift giving if it has become a big enough issue. But, I do agree that if it gets to that point that it is a larger issue that should probably be addressed. I think I would cancel gift giving on other occasions before doing it for Christmas.

Ugh, this is my huge fear with my MIL's gigantic Christmas bonanzas. My family usually does like 1 big gift per person but MIL does like a zillion gifts and LOVES giftwrap and bows and glitter and everything. We literally have to do 2-3 shifts of Christmas present opening because there are so many. I really don't want our kids to get the wrong idea about what Christmas is about. Plus, I was raised by parents with zero tolerance for fighting or bickering over things or possessions, so I definitely feel strongly about the entitlement/ingratitude thing.

I wouldn't "cancel" Christmas because we also think its about Jesus, but yeah I could see doing away with gifts for being jerks. As it is, DH and I have talked about tamping down our personal Christmas at home by limiting gifts to the "want, read, wear, need" type thing (or ideally getting grandparents to sponsor one of those things!), and really getting into Advent as a way to build up anticipation for Baby Jesus' arrival. I've loved the suggestions on the Bee lately about celebrating Jesus' birthday with a cake and giving gifts to OTHERS as a symbol of giving Jesus birthday presents or as a symbol of the unmerited gift of salvation.

We are DEFINITELY going to be doing a lot of giving and charitable works with our kids through Operation Christmas Child, food pantries and shelters, and working on family giving priorities by discussing groups or causes together that we'd like to donate money to (and hopefully get our kids to donate their own money eventually).

Ultimately, I think unless the kids are being genuinely mistreated it is up to individual parents to do whatever they want to do and not to do, and the vitriol people have had over this is so ridiculous to me. There are children out there being abused and neglected daily. C'mon!

Anyway, I don't think we'd ever really do this but LO is only 2. Who knows what our household will be like when she is older! Our family did do a "homemade Christmas" one year where we made all of each other's gifts and that was really fun! But there were no Santa believing age kids that year.