Toy Free Christmas

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The closer the holiday season comes the more dread I feel about it. I look at the toys advertised in the stores and in the newspaper inserts and it only makes me grumpier. My kids don’t need more toys. Trust me, they’ve got a never clean room to prove that point. Even with donating a huge box of not played with things they still have more than any two kids could need.

I’m putting my foot down. We’re having a Toy Free Christmas/Yule.

Now before you think I’m a totally heartless mom, I’m not denying them everything. Right now I’ve got a few knitted goodies ready or close to it for them. Scarves and hats that I made myself. And there are a couple things that we already bought, the always needed coloring books and some simply crafty supplies that we love. But beyond that, we’re sticking with the necessities.

I’ve been explaining to the boys how there are kids with no toys, almost no food, no warm beds to sleep in. I want them, Evan mainly, to understand that the less we take the more there is available for others. If we get the expected “buy something for the boys” check from grandparents soon I plan on letting them pick out a toy to buy and drop into the charity box at the Dollar General. Evan is getting old enough to understand giving and taking and needs verses wants.

This year I’ll be the mean mom who doesn’t buy her kids the over-priced, made in sweat shops, polluting crap that is sold as a must have item. Sure the kids might need therapy later to overcome the burden of having a mom who thinks about these things, but at least we won’t be so far in debt as to be unable to afford it.

Image source - sanja gjenero