Merry Christmas to all !

[scaredyclassic]

Sjk, I wish you a low expectation, undepressed, reasonably good winter solstice.

[scaredyclassic]

Maybe this is why I have trouble in real life interactions.

I AM kind of a turd in a punch bowl.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=svelte][quote=scaredyclassic]Still disagree.

Children have wonder for everything.

By overstimulating with lights, presents, music etc, we actually reduce their capacity for wonder. They need increasingly bigger doses. A simple dried dandelion stalk no longer suffices.

I suppose it is OK to say merry christmas. Just leave it there.[/quote]

I respect your right to disagree – just think maybe you’re holding your butt cheeks a lil tight.

The way Christians raise children works, the way my family raises children works, and the way you raise your children works. I’m fond of saying that you have to be a severely bad parent to screw up a kid. Kids are very resilient and are exposed to so much outside of their immediate family and neighborhood now that they can quickly adapt to overcome whatever deficiencies we have as parents. Unless the kid isn’t hitting on all cylinders then they were screwed to begin with.

Kids – all kids – have plenty of rough days growing up and will have even more as an adult. Who am I to be scrooge and dissuade them from enjoying Christmas. They’ll turn out juuuust fine.

It just seemed like everyone was trying to be the turd in sjk’s punch bowl in this thread. I’m saying its all good. Enjoy![/quote]

I change my mind. Some days I agree that parents don’t matter so much others I agree with larkin:

They fuck you up, your mum and dad
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.

But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.

Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.
Philip Larkin

Childhood is generally surviveable, and people can seem ok…but when you actually talk to people really talk….they do seem to range from slightly wacky to deeply fucked up…with various abilities to cope.

And it might be their parents who made them a little nuttier than necessary.

Article on tight puritan butt cheeks re: banning christmas:

http://theweek.com/articles/479313/when-americans-banned-christmas

[FlyerInHi]

Problem with gift giving is that you have to reciprocate with a nicer gift otherwise people will say that you’re a “user,” not a “giver”.

Getting together for a simple meal with 1 special dish should be enough. No wasteful buffet style feast. My mom used to make enough for the guests. No extras.

[scaredyclassic]

For a decade or so relatives would give us gifts and we gave nothing.
Finally they stopped
I wonder if they hate us

[FlyerInHi]

They are talking among themselves. Cheapskate lawyer they say.

Asians here would tell you that they give cash in red envelopes. Seems like a better way. I was told that the rule is that older married people give money to young unmarried ones. If you’re an old bachelor or an old maid you don’t get anything. Not for Christmas for lunar new year

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=FlyerInHi]They are talking among themselves. Cheapskate lawyer they say.

Asians here would tell you that they give cash in red envelopes. Seems like a better way. I was told that the rule is that older married people give money to young unmarried ones. If you’re an old bachelor or an old maid you don’t get anything. Not for Christmas for lunar new year[/quote]

Giving is its own reward. Why get mad at me?

[paramount]

Oh what an awesome and beautiful sight;
A baby born, in the still of the night.
No trumpets or fanfare, to announce His birth;
Just the dirty old barn animals, for what it’s worth.

Hay for His mattress, a trough for His bed;
No soft fluffy pillow, to place His wee head.
No stunning royal robes, or attendents to care;
For this new born King of Kings, so tiny and fair.

God let Him be born, in the lowest of places;
A barn full of animals, with somber faces.
A humbling experence, just one of a kind;
A gift from the Father, to save all of mankind.

Oh! but did the angels rejoice, on that special night;
When they witnessed the glory, of that perfect sight.
In the form of a baby, who lay in the hay;
Was the Savior who would die, to show us the way.

So when you get caught up in, toys, trees and lights;
Stop and remember, that first Christmas night.
Think of how humble, those people did feel;
Cause the birth of the Christ child…was very real.

Eleanor M.Sorrentino-Peterman

[njtosd]

Merry Christmas, sjk! A read through of the other comments makes me feel somewhat shallow and consumeristic. But no matter. I love Christmas, and always will.

[flyer]

We’re looking forward to another wonderful Christmas, and thank you for your wishes, sjk.

[scaredyclassic]

Well I spoke too soon. My wife went a little crazy and got it in her head to make some homemade type gift thing that actually required a lot of work and some money. I was driving her around late last night, slightly crazed, also I had an expiring rewards certificate at sport chalet that I felt compelled to use because she wanted a particular object and if I didn’t buy it by close of business last night it wouldn’t be free. I am cheap, I guess. And I did exaggerate a bit, often I give the kids cash. Last night we bought them a few small goofy gift things too ata Target filled with definitely not happy or joyous looking late night shoppers. I went to the Ranch 99 asian market while she toiled at the craft store. I saw a really intriguing Asian candy consisting of fake candy hamburgers with a truly disturbing talking hamburger with mittens and socks on on the wrapper.

. Who would like this, I thought.

. She was up late last night finishing up some handicraft. I’m sure it still gets us tagged as super cheap. I looked online for red Asian gift envelopes, and they’re pretty inexpensive. Maybe I’ll buy a bunch of those and surprise everyone next year with money. I only like to give cash as a gift, because it requires no shopping. Also it is so very efficient. It is worth exactly as much as it cost you to the person you are giving it to. In fact, if the giver is fairly well off, it is probably worth more to the recipient. Very efficient. As opposed to an icky sweater.

I did some years back buy 100 used “money bags”, canvas bags for transport of coinage by banks. I have them in the garage. I put money in t hem and gave them to kids to take to birthday parties, also for weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc. . Sort of a modified red envelope thing. The bags themselves are pretty cool, they have the names of banks on them sometimes, or US MINT, and the type of coin in them. Also they can be weathered and worn in nice ways. It is pleasant to think of all the travels they made with all the money in them. What could be better than getting a gift of some cash in a money sack? The bags themselves go for 3 to 7 $ each on ebay, and I hope the people ive given them too keep them…. They’re so useful. if you buy 100 you get a BIG discount.

I use one as a travel cosmetics bag. Also for various storage purposes. I love the way they feel.

I m in a great mood. Went for a long hike on the pacific crest trail yesterday with the whole family, eldest is off from college, was freezing, had decent Pho afterwards, everyone was happy together. Why wait for Christmas though for family togetherness or loving mood? It’s either there all the time or it’s probably fake.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=scaredyclassic][

Giving is its own reward. Why get mad at me?[/quote]

So they say. But few mean it.

[flyer]

“Why wait for Christmas though for family togetherness or loving mood? It’s either there all the time or it’s probably fake.”

Agree. Christmas is all the time with us.

[mixxalot]

LIkewise,

I picked up some tasty Julian Apple pies and vanilla ice cream! What a treat for Xmas!

[Coronita]

Merry Christmas everyone.

[Author]

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