getting in the mood of Christmas

[bluebird]

I am new here. I have always Christmas shopped year round. This year is very hard. My mother died right before Christmas last year, my dad has cancer and I doubt he will be here this year. There are problems with the inlaws, we don't have any family function with them. I do think this will be the last year we give extended family gifts. Two of my kids are having health problems. In other words I have my plate full! I need to start buying gifts now but I am at a loss... My inlaws, I supect throw my handmade items out. I hve two teenage boys to buy for that we never see and don't know at all. A magazine subscripion? I do have ideas for these people but can't get 'in the mood'. Any ideas other than a swift kick in the pants?


Connie

[ajrsmom]

Hi Connie Welcome to Family Corner!!



For the boys...... A magazine subscription would be a good idea. Can you find out if they have video game systems? A game for it or a gift card to use to buy one would be good. Are they sports fans? Most guys love shirts, hats.....anything with their favorite sports logo on it.

Fleece blankets in their school colors could work too.

You could even do something like gift cards for pizza and a movie ( theatre or rental).



As for the in-laws---My ex-husbands mother was a real peach She never liked anything that I gave to her. I loved to give homemade gifts too but they were never appreciated.

How about giving something like a basket of food that you know they would like .....fruit baskets, breakfast basket......whatever they really enjoy eating.

You could also give them a gift certificate to a nice restaurant.

How about magazine subscriptions for them?


Im sorry to hear of your losses. I lost my Dad in early Dec. 2002 and this will be our first Christmas without my MIL too. I know how sad those times can be.

With everything going on in your life right now, please take time for youself too! Dont worry about getting everything done right now.

I bet you will get a lot of ideas from others on this subject too!


(((HUGS)))
Tami

[soddark]

Hi Connie! I am Sophie from NY.
Last year was the first Christmas we celebrated with out my Dad or my husbands Dad and Brother. All 3 passed away last year. I find that if you keep up the traditions they loved it is a good way to remember them and still keep them as part of the holiday. It will be rough but memories you will always have, no one can take them from you!

As far as the inlaws, how about gift certificates for dinner? I am not sure how much you wanted to spend. As far as the teenagers Gift certificates to a music store so they could purchase CDs or tapes. Or maybe to a clothes store and they can pick something they want. It gets harder as they get older doesnt it!! LOL!!

I dont know if I have been of any help, I hope I have!!
Sophie

[VickiLynn]

Hi, Connie, your inlaws sound a lot like mine! I always try to go practical with them. They have so much "stuff" sitting around the house already. Last Christmas I gave them some stationery that I personalized with my computer/printer, envelopes w/ their return address/ address labels/ postage stamps and note cards. Another year I made a calendar with old family pictures printed on each page. I suspect someday when they're gone and the kids have to go through their house, we'll find all the gifts we ever gave them stashed away in closets.

We also have to buy for teenagers we don't know very well. If they're driving, I usually get gas gift certificates. If not, certificates for movies, video rentals, fast food places... I usually attach the certificates to a small gift, like an ornament or a key ring or some candy.

I never thought of subscriptions - I'll have to put that on my ideas list for this year (along with the "swift kick in the pants" idea).

[janet]

Hi Connie!

I am always at a loss for Christmas gifts for everyone too.

For my mom, I buy her food items, Schwanns ice cream in a tin, and then I make her all sorts of goodies and put them in another tin...it is really cute, when she emptys her tins, she gives it back for a refill...lol

For teens I usually get cd's, PS2 games, or other gadjets..lol

I like to give homemade gifts, but I think maybe it is stuff I like to do...lol

Take care, Good to meet you,

Janet

[bluebird]

Thanks for all the ideas. I am still leaning toward the magazines. A- It is easy. B- I think this will be the last year we exchanges and they can have a gift every month from someone they really don't like. :p Not very Christ like I know...... I normally try to spend around $10-$15. If I shop all year, that is easier to get a nice gift for little $$$. I need to contact the cheap magazine websites and see if I can buy now but not deliever until Jan.

I don't know what is going on but..... yesterday the inlaws stopped by, came into the house and talked to us....all of us.....MIL even talked to her grandchildren. Dh and I have noticed that MIL is trying.......it is forced trying but trying...... This is strange, dh and I have decided to move as soon as my dad dies and I have his estate settled. And when God gives us a new job and housing! Dh is finally ready to cut some of the ole apron strings. Then MIL starts being nice???? We haven't said a word to them about our plans. I know we are never to say it is too late but......... my feelings are ....it is too late to try to be nice now...... after twenty years of marriage????

[VickiLynn]

You may not have told your in-laws you're planning to move, but I'll bet they've figured it out. Stick to your guns. You're right: "too little too late". That "forced" niceness is hard for them to do, so it won't last long.

I often wish we had moved away from my in-laws. All their other children did. So now we're stuck here taking care of them. They live in the country - and refuse to move from the family farm. But neither drives any more. So we do a lot of running for them.

In a way, maybe its easier for us, because we can spend a couple of hours with them once a week, and go home. The other siblings come to visit for a weekend every few months, but have to be with them 24/7 for those couple days. That would drive me nuts.

OK, back to GETTING IN THE MOOD FOR CHRISTMAS. I went to an outlet mall yesterday, and found the cutest outfit on clearance for my new niece. Originally $25, I got it for $3!! She was born in June, so will be 6 mos at Christmas. I got a 12 month size. Hope it's OK because I'd hate for them to have to return it and find out I only paid $3

[janet]

Vickilynn, always remember a gift is a gift and by you finding a fantastic deal on this outfit..that is such a bonus!

You are a great shopper...my kind of lady! I love bargains too..I always shop the clearance racks...amazing what you can find. I wish I wore a smaller size because there is a ton of clothes for smaller ladies...lol

I never pay full price for anything, except groceries..lol

Janet

[kellydid]

I too know how you feel. We lost my mother and my father-in-law in the same year and that first Christmas without them was so hard. I did a very stupid thing. I tried to do everything that my mother had done and of course I couldn't do it all. So after that, we made other traditions but incorporated the ones that they both loved and that has worked out great.

I also have a teenage nephew to buy for and I usually give him a gift certificate for gas for his car, movies, magazine subscription, or I will just give him a card with money in it. These games that he wants for the computer and x-boxes are just too expensive.

I try to get started on shopping early, but I'm getting a late start this year.

[Raggd3]

It's good to see others are trying to get an early jump on Christmas.

The last few years I have been very disgusted with the commercialism, and the pushing and shoving, frantic crowds. People race to shop, and hurry to parties and drag themselves to one function after another because it's tradition.

Well. I have decided that this year, I won't do it!

I have informed my family that this year the "tradition" is to go back to what Christmas is really about.

This year the holidays are going to be more old fashioned, and people priented.

First-- the gifts from me won't be expensive do dads that someone just couldn't live without. I am making the gifts, like our ancestors did. And they will be practical.

Second--I will slow down and take time to gather the grandbabies (oldest is 16 youngest 1 1/2 years old) and we will drive around looking at everyones pretty lights. Isn't that why they put them up in the first place?

Third--All the grands will help make gifts for the nursing home.
We did this last year but only 1 child went wiith us. They all need to go and give out the gifts they have made and chat with the lovely, and often forgotten, older generation.

Fourth--This year there will be a cookie exchange. I have been trying for 5 years to organize and make one happen.

And last--(unless I think of something else later) the Christmas dinner, which I always host will be cooked here at my house. All the participants will actually spend some time here BEFORE the meal and talk while we peel veggies and bake pies.

I guess I'll get down off my soapbox now, it's just that with Mom and Dad gone, our Christmas' don't have the same feeling or meaning anymore.
That's not exactly right. Just want a holiday like we had when I was a kid.

This is "looking for more meaning to Christmas Maryann" signing off for now.;-)