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Christmas shopping = unhappy mummy

November 19th, 2014 at 02:09 pm

As the title says, I went Christmas shopping with my mum yesterday. Actually, it ended up being her doing all of the shopping because I only went fpr a couple of things. I came home feeling disheartened because I felt like my mum was spending way more on the kids than we have. I think she has. Practically everything she bought was for my kids. I shouldn't complain but I felt like I should have been buying the same. When I got home DH reminded me that we've already spent a lot of our money on the kids.

I was tempted to buy SG a dolls house for her xmas because she really enjoyed playing with one last week. After discussing it with DH we decided that it can wait till March for her birthday.

I thought I was being organised, decluttering etc in the run up to Christmas. DH doesn't think the flat will be decluttered by then. All of the clutter won't be gone but there will be less than there is now. I didn't do anything yesterday because I was out with my mum so I feel as though I've fallen behind today.

5 Responses to “Christmas shopping = unhappy mummy”

  1. Wife of the Deacon Says:
    1416406910


    Be kind to yourself, Sweetie. Been there, done that regarding feeling bad about being "out-gifted" by well-intending and doting grandparents. Have realistic goals for yourself for decluttering and maybe enlist hubby's help to achieve a more streamlined feeling. Waiting for the dollhouse is a great idea! Take care.

  2. frugalredhead Says:
    1416417137

    Don't feel bad and don't compare shopping! We are spending very little on our kids this year due to trying to pay off our debt (and we're going to Disney World in February so what more of a gift do they need?) LOL The nice thing is, at my kids' ages (3 and 7) they have no idea what things cost or have any expectation of how much "should" be spent. I got my 7 year old 3 books at a library book sale for $1, and he will be just as happy with them as if I bought them brand new at a bookstore. He is getting a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles calendar from the dollar store and will love it. Of course, the BIG thing he really wants from Santa is a $100 lego set, so we'll have to see if I can find that cheaper anywhere.

    Great idea waiting for March togive your daughter the dollhouse - my little one's birhdya is February and it can be so hard to find anything to get him being so close after Christmas. Now you'll have that taken care of!

  3. snafu Says:
    1416440723

    1st, I'm delighted that you shopped with mum without changing your purchasing plan. Good on you. I too am puzzled by your response to your mum's generosity to her grandkids. Your love for your DKs isn't measured by the number or cost of gifts. That's not a good value to transmit or teach your children and they know intuitively if you are disappointed and dissatisfied. Coping with TV advertising is difficult as children have no understanding of the difference between fact and fiction/pretend.

    Love the plan to ave up for the BD, dollhouse gift. How can we support your efforts to de-clutter? What is holding you back? Have you advertised SG's outgrown cloths as planned? That accomplishes several goals, recovers a bit of money, removes items no longer used or needed and makes space for Christmas additions. Does DH get any opportunities for overtime?

  4. patientsaver Says:
    1416442510

    I love snafu's answer above. I agree, your love for your kids is not defined by how much you can buy them... so relax....feel blessed that your kids have such generous grandparents. Hopefully they will be just as generous when it comes to college tuition! What's not to like?

  5. scottish girl Says:
    1416470284

    Thanks everyone. I guess I was just feeling disheartened. This never normally bothers me, in fact whenever we're talking to people about the kids xmas presents I always say that I love the age they're at because they're none the wiser and I can get whatever I want.

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