Taking The Waiting Out Of Wanting!

[Skydancing]

It seems to me where some kids are concerned every day is Christmas Day! They only have to pipe up, "I WANT", and over indulgent parents rush to get it for them. So when Christmas does come these kids can't have the same amount of excitement and anticipation as I had as a child, when sizeable presents were reserved for Christmas and birthdays.

When our children were small we tried to make Christmas as special as possible with a mixture of the religious and secular. We also made sure they realised that there were children who were less fortunate than themselves, and they took pleasure is choosing a special toy for a child who would not be getting much from Santa.

In my opinion Christmas can be made very special for children without over indulging them.

 

[stumpjumper]

I agree. My parents tend to spoil our kids with too many presents so we try to counteract that with less presents and more emphasis on helping others. We do a few gift drives for the needy and clothing collection for a Childrens Aid Society and I think they learn a little from each of those things.

 

[JulySheMustFly]

Agreed. The only time my kids really get anything not needed is for birthdays and Christmas. Otherwise they have to cash in their reward money. We also let them pick one gift that they would like to receive for Christmas and then give it to a donation.

 

[ottaia]

I agree also. My nieces were overindulged by their grandmother. If we were out, they would ask for something. If I said "sorry, not now" they would say, "That's ok, we'll just ask grandma." They didn't take care of anything.

 

[Skydancing]

I try not to over indulge my grandchildren, although I probably spoil them a little more than parents would do, but then I don't see them every day.

 

[PureX]

This is America, where all life and culture revolves around a consumer-based economy. By the time a child in America is 6 years old he/she has already been exposed to many thousands of advertisements all telling them to want more and more and more. And we now have several generations of Americans that grew up with this constant mantra of desire. So it's not surprising that parents today obey the mantra of desire that their own children have been taught to whine - as they themselves were raised on it, and still follow it as adults.

Many years ago Kruschev said that America, as a capitolist society, would be destroyed by it's own greed. It may be taking a bit longer that Kruschev imagined, but we do seem to be on that inevitable path.