Giving Up Control of Christmas Gifts

Our children are not lacking in Christmas gifts. We have a lot of family nearby which eases some of our gift giving burden.

When I was growing up the gift giving responsibility belonged solely to my parents. There weren’t grandparents or aunts and uncles nearby that showered us with presents. Every year my mother began saving for Christmas in January and each Christmas morning we had a ton of gifts under the tree.

Every year since becoming a parent, we are approached by family asking for inspiring ideas for Christmas gifts for our kids; everyone wanting to make sure they get something special for our kids.

The first few years this used to cause me an immense amount of stress.

I found it very difficult to coordinate between everyone. I worried about two family members getting the same gift. I worried that someone would be upset or feel angry or not be happy with the choices I gave them.

I spent much of the holiday season with a weight on my shoulders trying to figure out a way to please everyone.

Last Christmas I decided that I didn’t want to play gift coordinator any more.

Instead I started to shift my focus on what I wanted to give my kids for Christmas.

I refused to worry about what everyone else was getting and if they got two of the same gift then we could always exchange.

My shift in thinking allowed me to focus on my own children and what they really wanted for gifts. I stopped buying gifts just for the sake of buying a gift and started giving them things they really wanted and needed.

My Christmas shopping list for my kids now follows the something they want, something they need, something to wear, something to read and lastly something to do rule.

I know it’s a first world problem. We are very blessed and fortunate to have the means to give gifts to our children.

Christmas shopping has become fun again. With the stress gone I can relish in the magic.

This year I am anxiously awaiting Christmas morning. I can’t wait to see the looks on their little faces when they unwrap the presents they find under the tree; presents I chose just for them.