Sunday, December 19, 2010

Have some Christmas Whine

I love the holidays. I really do. But I'm so angry and frustrated I wish it was January. I try to give my children a good Christmas. And I think I manage to. I don't do it alone. My mom and brother always help.

Presents are really just a small part. Emma is huge on tradition, so we have many. We always build gingerbread houses, pick someone off the angel tree at church to give presents to, ring bells for Salvation Army (which, btw, we have discovered that if you sing carols people give more and if you attempt the 12 days of Christmas people give even more). We open one present on Christmas Eve and they pretend to be surprised every year when they turn out to be pjs.

For them to get presents for me gets a little tricky. I usually can find a friend to take them shopping, or my brother.

Now, this really shouldn't be an issue for my ex, because he's remarried and they could very easily handle it. But I found out today that they never take the girls shopping for Christmas, so the girls don't have presents to give them. The girls never told me because they know money is tight. But it obviously bothers them, so today I took them out to buy presents. To make matters worse, it turns out they don't even buy presents for the girls. All the presents they get come from their stepmother's parents. Now money shouldn't be an issue, because they make at least three times, maybe four times what I do. They have three cars, one of which cost more than I make in two years.

Now, maybe this is selfish, but having to spend this extra money means that I can no longer do the one thing that I wanted for Christmas. I just wanted to take the girls into the city to look at the Macys (Marshall Fields) windows and then to lunch at the famous Walnut Room by the tree. And I know it is really stupid to let it bother me, we're still going to be able to go and look at the windows, we just will have to skip the lunch.

And I do understand how lucky we are, so I guess I should just shut up, get over it and move on. Hopefully at least I'm setting a good example by doing this and not complaining (in front of the girls anyway).

4 comments:

Sultan said...

The Marshall Field's (I can no bear to call it Macy's) at State street really beautiful this year.

Tracie said...

Could the girls make them something, so then they would still have a present to give and not cost alot of $$

Anonymous said...

I like what Tracie said... Also, your girls are old enough to know the score with Pops by now. I think a good, "we all have our priorities" reminder would probably suffice for them. Seems that for them to give presents and not get any back would make the girls feel worse about Pops - or is that the point? If anything I'd get presents for the stepgrans and call it done. But I like that making stuff suggestion. Or give something to people in need and send Pops a card saying "we did this in your honor because you're such a giving and loving father." Ha!

Auntie Di said...

Ugh, he's such a dufus. Of course he'll never appreciate what you did and what you gave up so the girls can give them Christmas gifts. And your girls are sweet that they want to give them gifts, even though they don't receive them in return.