When my kids were young the stress was enormous. How can Santa let down
a little kid? I always laybyed stuff earlier in the year. Layby's are
generally only about 6 weeks but for toys they can be 6-8 months which
is a huge help. 5 of my kids are adults and one is about to turn 17, so
that leaves Jasmine who will be intellectually young forever. She is
going on 16 but today I went out and bought her toys The others are
happy enough to wait for a Xmas a few months down the track.

"Storrmmee" > wrote in message
...
> what a great attitude, when i was a kid there were a few years where
> parents didn't have a lot of money, so daddy would present us with a
> list of things to choose from and we all got one family gift, the only
> one i remember is the year we choose the pool table... pricey if
> purchased, but my dad went to a pool supply house and bought felt,
> slate cups, and accessories, and built the actual table, i was little
> enough i let older brother talk me into it not having a clue what it
> was... its now living in the basement at my moms and is over fourty
> years old and in great condition because he has replaced the felt and
> rubbers a few times. Lee
> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>>
>> "Julie Bove" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> "Ozgirl" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> No plans. We are postponing Christmas for a few months so we can
>>>> have something decent rather than half-arsed. I believe some young
>>>> friends and their toddler are coming over Christmas Eve for a BBQ
>>>> but they are just bringing a bit of meat and whatevers for
>>>> themselves and my boys can get what they want. My ex did say his
>>>> girlfriend will bring a ham and some cooked chickens over Christmas
>>>> Day so probably throw a salad together if they stay, which they
>>>> probably will. We had dessert lined up last year and no one ate any
>>>> as we were too full and the ex and his GF moved on to her
>>>> daughter's house after eating here. I might just get some fruit and
>>>> we can cut it up if necessary.
>>>
>>> My mom seems to have an idea that holidays are causing my dad to
>>> have brain bleeds. So we have to minimize what we do. I think it
>>> is more a matter of her not wanting to do much. But I could be
>>> wrong.
>>
>> Either way, its the family get together that's more important than
>> the type of food or how much time is spent on making it special. Xmas
>> can be traumatic for a variety of reasons. We are absolutely stone
>> broke this Xmas but I am not depressed about it, as I know that we
>> will get to do Xmas, just not on Xmas Day . All family members have
>> stated they are not fussed about presents or a big Xmas spread etc.
>> My one exception is to fill a Santa bag and stocking for Jasmine.
>
>