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December 16, 2020

135 Comments

Mum shares why she refuses to buy her kids any birthday or Christmas presents – even though she can afford to.

This mum-of-two made the decision not to gift her four-year-son Louis ANY presents at Christmas to teach him the true meaning of the festive season – and hopefully avoid him becoming spoilt.

She’s never even bought him a birthday present and said she intends to continue the tradition for her eight-month-old little boy Kingsley.

She explains: “My worst fear was my children growing up to be spoilt. So when my four-year-old son was born, I told my husband Simon, 38, that I wanted our children to grow up feeling grateful for everything that they’re given.

“I decided that I wouldn’t buy my children gifts at Christmas.

“Our finances have no part to play in our decision. My husband is a teacher, and I am a strategy director and CEO of a wellness brand for women called Clementine, so we would have no issue with buying our sons lots of extravagant Christmas presents if we chose to do so.”

It’s Not About Gifts!

She added, “Christmas shouldn’t be all about the presents. I want to teach my children the value of money, and raise them to appreciate all they are given. I feel that less is more, especially at this time of the year.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas – and our son loves it too!

“My four-year-old has just started to understand Christmas and how it all works; of course, he believes in Santa.

“Christmas will be very special for us this year, as it will be our eight-month-old’s first Christmas.”

The mum shared that she does still allow family to buy her children gifts.

“I don’t have any problems with relatives buying our sons gifts. My husband has a very large family and my parents send them special presents over from New Zealand, so they’ll never be short of presents to open on Christmas Day.

“After all, we want them to have the real Christmas experience.

“However, we do try to advise our relatives to gift our boys things that they need, and fewer things that they want.”

“We will decorate our house with twinkling lights and make sure our children have the best day. The only difference is, they won’t receive any presents from us.

“However, we do try to advise our relatives to gift our boys things that they need, and fewer things that they want.”

It’s just a choice!

“It’s a choice we’ve made purely on the way we want to raise our children. It’s the same with birthdays.

“I have never bought my four-year-old a birthday gift. These “special” occasions all become a bit too much.”

“Instead we try to focus on having experiences together and making memories as a family, rather than making it all about the material things.

“However, this is proving to be harder as they grow up. Kids are growing up in a world that over-stimulates them.

“Handing them gifts on a plate doesn’t help to grow their curious minds, teach them the value of money or show them the true meaning of Christmas.”

Do you agree with this mum’s logic?

Share your comments below

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  • Every parent for themselves. This is a good idea although I probably wouldn’t do this myself as gifting is a core part of our Christmas fun!

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  • As mean as this sounds, I actually think the meaning behind it all is a good idea. Not alot of children are all about xmas for the gift of giving, it’s all I want I want.

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  • My question to her would be… Were you given Christmas and Birthday gifts as a child and are you a spoilt brat?
    We live in a society where most children are given birthday and christmas gifts and I certainly dont feel that these children as all spoilt little brats that feel they should have what ever they want given to them. My kids were always thankful for everything they were given. They would get excited over socks and underwear as part of their christmas gifts.

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  • Nope I don’t agree. No you don’t want your children to get spoilt, but surely for a day you can spoil them? Many happy memories of mine were at Christmas with a who,e heap of presents. Yet I always appreciated that Christmas was about family.

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  • I don’t agree. Surely once the oldest one starts school & kids start talking about ‘what they got for Christmas’ things will change.. They don’t need a lot but at least one thing!

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  • The ideal is perhaps the right one, however when they are older, they just might not agree with their mother’s views on this.

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  • Yes it her choice but not mine!

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  • I get great joy out of giving presents

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  • I agree with her. We need to teach our kids what is the real meaning of Christmas,

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  • I understand what you are trying to do, nevertheless, I believe they should be remembered on their birthday.

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  • Their choice of course, but I could never not buy a present for Birthdays or Christmas, it just wouldn’t feel right ….

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  • their choice and really we have so much ‘stuff’ in this wold already.

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  • This is their choice but I for one couldn’t not buy my family a gift for their Birthday or Christmas. I would certainly feel mean if everyone else gave them a present and I didn’t. It doesn’t have to be a material gift, it could be an outing.

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  • Each to their own, but I guess it’s a bit sad that her kids won’t receive gifts just because! I ensure my children know the true meaning of things, from why we celebrate occasions to needing to work to buy these gifts. They also save their own money (as 7 and 4 year olds) to buy gifts for others

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  • Maybe there is a lesson to be learnt for the parents. The act of giving. I believe it starts in the home. If I felt that strongly about this choice i would hand make a present to show the love that went into the present and it was made just for the boys. Family parents etc supplying the gifts/ presents isn’t that a back flip on your ideals, of being spoilt. You have one rule and stick to it.
    The way I see it, the children will soon learn about when you get a present and why etc. You’re making a rod for your own backs and your children won’t understand the “spoilt ideals” when they attend birthday parties, schools . Give your children values that they want to live out.

    Reply

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