We call them Lay-aways here. My kids would never had gotten toys if I
couldn't do Lay-away.Sure helped a lot


"Ozgirl" > wrote in message
...
> 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.
>>
>>
>