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It’s Christmas Time again so let me just brace myself for the barrage of Debbie‘s social media posts in relation to being ‘price conscious’ of Santa’s presents!

Admittedly, it does not seem fair that some children get more from Santa than others. In my opinion, it’s heartbreaking that there are children in the world that are not fortunate enough to have food in their bellies on Christmas Day let alone a gift to unwrap.

It’s difficult. Life is often so unbalanced!

Don’t Judge!

Is judging what someone else’s child has under their tree from Santa really going to solve the problem though?

If a few fortunate children go without, does that mean that automatically some less fortunate children will be better off?

If Susan’s son receives an iPad from Santa, will it really prevent other children from feeling like they missed out? As though Santa gypped them?

Whatever happened to good sportsmanship? Teaching children to be happy for one another’s good fortune?

If we don’t cease this opportunity to guide children to feel content within themselves, when will they learn how?

Or is it just easier to persecute Susan than it is to teach children self-worth?

What WE Do At Our Home

My children are limited to receiving presents on their Birthday’s and at Christmas.

It’s a decision my husband and I made based on many factors and it’s what we are comfortable with.

Should we feel disgruntled about the kids who bring new toys on to school every week for ‘news day’?

Would it be easier for me to complain about the good fortune of other children rather than teach mine patience and the power of dreaming big for themselves and knowing, deciphering, what they truly desire opposed to simply having something because someone else does.

Do I really need to assist my child with indulging in the hype created by others over things which they desire, which aren’t necessarily aligned with my child’s interests, by trying to provide my children with the materialistic things which phase in and out depending on what the latest craze is.

You Never Know Other People’s Stories

Sometimes it may not even come down to wealth. The reason why Santa gave Susan’s son an iPad, and not yours Debbie, could very well be because Susan did it tough for a number of months or even years just to make her son’s dream come true!

I know that as a mother there are many luxuries I have had to give up, not just because time does not permit, but because I want to spend my money elsewhere.

Trips to the hair and nail salon… holidays… heck even eating out are all things I am willing to cut back on to make my children’s (reasonable) dreams possible… let’s face it, that pony from Santa is never going to happen!

You’re A Big Fat Hypocrite!

Let me ask you something Debbie, how come you want everyone to get Santa’s generosity under control when you can’t even control your own spouse’s spontaneous gift giving!

You’re so worried that your child is going to run into Susan’s son at school and feel sad if he mentions the iPad that he received from Santa- yet there you were for the last ten months plastering all the random presents you received from your spouse all over social media!

That Tiffany ring, bottle of expensive champagne, surprise holiday to Hawaii, all the spa weekends you’ve had and the bunches of flowers he brings you every second day… well Debbie, guess what? My husband didn’t do any of that. Should I feel sad and think that I’m missing out?

Am I supposed to question why you got a husband who showers you with lavish gifts and I’m still waiting for an engagement ring from the man I married over a decade ago?

Are you willing to stop parading your gifts around as long as Santa gives all children affordable presents?

Life doesn’t work that way Debbie!

Unbalanced

I wish it did. I wish things were more balanced. But they aren’t.

The truth is that I’m not going to have more if you have less.

Just like Susan’s son isn’t taking anything away from anyone else’s child by receiving that iPad he’s been patiently waiting years to receive from Santa.

Get Your Priorities Right!

If we want to make a change in the world it starts with what we teach our children. Not with what material goods we give them.

Give them the gift of kindness, knowledge, generosity and the confidence to dream without limits, to believe that anything is possible, and it will be for them.

Me controlling Santa is going to do about as much for anyone as you controlling your spouse would do!

I refuse to allow Santa to give my children the gift of feeling completely content with material things. The gift of contentment is something they will give themselves so that no one can ever take that power away from them.

At the end of it all, no one is more or less fortunate depending on their financial circumstances anyway. I believe if you wake up, if your heart is beating and you’re alive, you are blessed, and if you have all your loved ones alive on this magnificent Earth with you, you’re even more so!

Some Gifts Are Priceless

Give the gift of imagination! It’s priceless and anyone is capable of showing their child how incredible it feels to just be content with life before unwrapping a single present.

You’re right though Debbie, there are some really mean kids out there who are cruel enough to take enjoyment from gloating over what Santa gave them. Hopefully however, once they mature, they see the error of their ways and don’t continue to be that sort of person by the time they reach our age… I’m sure you can agree that displaying some humility opposed to being a show off would be a lovely trait to have… or could you…

It simply doesn’t seem fair that the same mums that want us to give less presents to our children from Santa are the same mothers who boast about all the things their partners buy them all year round!

Being able to understand and feel compassion, is perhaps the greatest gift I could ever give my children, and I hope they continue being the most beautifully empathetic souls that they are as they grow into adulthood. Because I’d never want them to make another person feel as though they are missing out, and I want them to continue to be the selfless, generous little beings that they are, always wanting to share by giving to others.

How could they possibly learn to be generous if we didn’t show generosity to them…

Merry Christmas Everyone!

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  • We are all different and we all have different budgets….who cares. You do you and dont worry about what others are doing. If you want to spend up large then go for it. Its only foolish if you are putting yourself into financial risk. If not then just be happy and spend.

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  • Interesting read

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  • We give small gifts from santa and gifts from mum and dad. I prefer this as I grew up only getting gifts from santa. Chrismas is more us all getting together as a family.

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  • Everyone has their own version of Santa and some overdo it in my opinion. As long as it works for you I guess.

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  • Kids these days sometimes don’t know what it is to go without

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  • A good article. We have always appreciated any gift we were given ….

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  • Important to have the priorities right indeed.

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  • Thanks for the read and every day is a blessing in itself.

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  • Thanks for posting this article, but my kids have always enjoyed what they were given and knew it was no use wishing for a Lamborghini on a Holden income.

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  • This is an interesting read that reflects my thoughts as well. My boys have never asked for much and if they didn’t get what they wished for they never complained. To them Santa visiting and leaving anything was something to be happy about.

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  • This is great article to read.

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  • I see your point, but I don’t entirely agree – if the sort of post you’re talking about causes people to (a) be aware of their good fortune and (b) stop to think with compassion about others and (c) maybe even talk to their kids about how lucky they are, then I don’t have a problem with them.

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  • We do a good mix of both, but we have an only child and that’s what works for us.

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  • Good post! We do a present from Santa and a stocking from Santa. We also do a present from his big brother Zane in heaven. The rest is from us why? Because we should get the credit for all the hard work hahaha

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  • We are such a fortunate country we need to teach our kids that they need to start with being grateful or what they have

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