Post by isolemnlyswear on Feb 24, 2015 22:42:48 GMT -5
I don't want to do birthday presents....I know I know... birthday grinch. My family tends to be very materialistic and that's something I've been working on myself and do not want to pass to Cecilia.
I do want to continue going to midnight mass on Christmas when the kid(s) get bigger and camping over the fourth of July in Leland MI.
Post by stellabunny on Feb 24, 2015 23:08:17 GMT -5
Definitely nightly dinners.
When she's older, I think I want to let her decide on a family activity every month. Zoo, movie, aquarium...whatever it is she wants to do as a family that's within reason and we will go do that.
Post by anotherdreamer on Feb 24, 2015 23:16:38 GMT -5
We didn't really have any traditions, DH and I both come from broken homes with lots of issues. I want my kids to have traditions and family time though.
A big thing for me, once they're older, is I would like a weekly game/movie night.
We never went on vacations growing up, and we didn't do a lot of family activities. I want to take the kids on at least one big vacation, and many day trips.
Halloween is huge in our house; I want to make costumes, be creative, and have a lot of fun. I am riding the family themed costumes as long as I can too.
One present on Christmas eve, plus donating gifts to others.
Post by stellabunny on Feb 24, 2015 23:24:29 GMT -5
anotherdreamer - that reminds me! Every Christmas I want my daughter to help decide where we donate money. Maybe I'll let her choose between a couple organizations when she's younger and then when she's older she can research different organizations and pick one herself.
Post by honeybee434 on Feb 24, 2015 23:27:35 GMT -5
I would like to do some nightly dinners, with DH's schedule every night just isn't possicle. I'm lucky for 3/ week.
One present on Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve church. I would like to do St Nick's day, even though everyone here in OK will probably look at me crazy.
Also to not have EVERY birthday be a huge party and a big deal. Some of my birthdays growing up were big and some were just my parents and I and my brothers at home with a homemade cake. We did do a family out to eat dinner around your birthday and you got to choose the place, so I want to do that.
Mini "themed" presents on holidays at dinner. My mom would always leave us something small next to our place setting. It always made the holiday fun.. (Usually not more than $10)
Yearly family vacations.
Library trips. My mom was a SAHM so we went weekly, but I would settle for monthly as a working mom.
I know I have a lot more I just can't think of them.
Buying 4 Christmas/winter themed books and opening them the 4 nights before Christmas. My mom did this and we'd read each book before bed. It's something I'll always remember.
Family vacations with all my siblings and parents. We are starting again this year. I can't wait.
Buying 4 Christmas/winter themed books and opening them the 4 nights before Christmas. My mom did this and we'd read each book before bed. It's something I'll always remember.
Family vacations with all my siblings and parents. We are starting again this year. I can't wait.
I've got a friend who does her advent calendar with wrapped books, so 25 new books every year. Not sure if they're all Christmas themed. I know the majority are.
I don't want to do birthday presents....I know I know... birthday grinch. My family tends to be very materialistic and that's something I've been working on myself and do not want to pass to Cecilia.
I do want to continue going to midnight mass on Christmas when the kid(s) get bigger and camping over the fourth of July in Leland MI.
Do you plan on celebrating birthdays? Or just no presents? Kind of interested in the concept but I don't think I could keep the grandparents from spoiling her
We always did one gift on Christmas eve and I want to do dd's as Christmas PJ's and a Christmas book to read before bed.
Right now we travel to DH's family lake house in upstate NY around the 4th of July every other year. We would like to go every year. DH's mom took them every summer when he was a kid. We didn't go last year for obvious reasons. But we are planning on going this year.
We used to do Friday pizza night which I would like to continue and add a movie.
Traditions: -Going to Disney World when LO is 5 (that is the perfect age they can do some rides and can interact with the characters and usually not afraid) -Dinners with no TV on -Game Night (at every family gathering my family plays card games) -Yearly vacation
I can't think of ones that I didn't like at this time besides Christmas caroling
I don't want to do birthday presents....I know I know... birthday grinch. My family tends to be very materialistic and that's something I've been working on myself and do not want to pass to Cecilia.
I do want to continue going to midnight mass on Christmas when the kid(s) get bigger and camping over the fourth of July in Leland MI.
Do you plan on celebrating birthdays? Or just no presents? Kind of interested in the concept but I don't think I could keep the grandparents from spoiling her
Leapinglizards We for sure want to celebrate. We want her to feel special by having people come together for her special day but not have the expectation that she gets presents. I think a birthday cake and a party with friends running around playing is great! But just think.. no meltdowns from other kids or her because there is a pile of presents just sitting there..
Do you plan on celebrating birthdays? Or just no presents? Kind of interested in the concept but I don't think I could keep the grandparents from spoiling her
Leapinglizards We for sure want to celebrate. We want her to feel special by having people come together for her special day but not have the expectation that she gets presents. I think a birthday cake and a party with friends running around playing is great! But just think.. no meltdowns from other kids or her because there is a pile of presents just sitting there..
I can appreciate this line of thinking, but how are you going to enforce no gifts? Isn't it just as tacky to put "no gifts" on an invite as it is to put specific requests (I'm thinking of showers where books or diapers are "required")?
@iheartmyshiba, but that still gets to you directing what gifts should or should to be brought (even if it's for a good cause). Just wondering when it goes from tacky (diaper raffle or books for cards at a shower) to ok (things to be donated in lieu of gifts for the honoree).
Leapinglizards We for sure want to celebrate. We want her to feel special by having people come together for her special day but not have the expectation that she gets presents. I think a birthday cake and a party with friends running around playing is great! But just think.. no meltdowns from other kids or her because there is a pile of presents just sitting there..
I can appreciate this line of thinking, but how are you going to enforce no gifts? Isn't it just as tacky to put "no gifts" on an invite as it is to put specific requests (I'm thinking of showers where books or diapers are "required")?
I know that's it's something I can't enforce and if someone brought her a gift I wouldn't be upset at them. I planned on speaking with my family and friends about it. And as those will be the people at her parties in the beginning it shouldn't be a big deal. As she gets older I may put something on the invitation that says "the only present we need is you". Again I'm not 100% on how I'll handle it because I do not want to be that person who sounds tacky.... luckily I have a few years to figure it out
I do like the idea of bring donations to the local shelter!
@iheartmyshiba, but that still gets to you directing what gifts should or should to be brought (even if it's for a good cause). Just wondering when it goes from tacky (diaper raffle or books for cards at a shower) to ok (things to be donated in lieu of gifts for the honoree).
Good point. I'm at a loss.
I have heard of some families that let the kid pick a certain number of gifts they were given to keep and the rest get donated to a shelter or children's hospital. That might be a good alternative to avoid putting restrictions on the guests.
@iheartmyshiba, but that still gets to you directing what gifts should or should to be brought (even if it's for a good cause). Just wondering when it goes from tacky (diaper raffle or books for cards at a shower) to ok (things to be donated in lieu of gifts for the honoree).
Kind of related but I was just reminded of my short time on The Knot. I remember some people thought it was horribly tacky to donate in lieu of favors. My dad died of early-onset Alzheimer's 3 months before my wedding so we donated to the Alzheimer's Association in his honor. All these years later I wonder if any of our guests actually thought that was tacky.
Who cares if they thought it was. I think that was a great way to honor your dad.
I am so sorry for your loss and I imagine it was so much harder being so close to your wedding. I wouldn't have thought it was tacky. I think that was a lovely way to honor a loved one who couldn't be there.
I would give a mouthful to any individual who says otherwise.
Family dinners are a big one - with no phones or TV! I want to celebrate the little holidays at least a little (special breakfast on Valentines, green milk on St. Patrick's Day, etc.) just to make them special. And lots of travel to new places.
Re: gifts - I almost always gift books, and you could spread the word with your family/friends that that's what you want/need. I know it's still a gift, but it feels less like "stuff" and more like and experience to me. (Bonus, they take up less space than toys, mostly!)
I have heard of some families that let the kid pick a certain number of gifts they were given to keep and the rest get donated to a shelter or children's hospital. That might be a good alternative to avoid putting restrictions on the guests.
I feel like I would be kind of sad if I picked a gift out for a kid that I thofht they would like to then find out that it didn't make their "cut" of what they chose to keep. I also really only buy gifts for nieces and nephews, so I buy them gifts expecting to see them play with the toys, or wear the cloathes, etc.
I have heard of some families that let the kid pick a certain number of gifts they were given to keep and the rest get donated to a shelter or children's hospital. That might be a good alternative to avoid putting restrictions on the guests.
I feel like I would be kind of sad if I picked a gift out for a kid that I thofht they would like to then find out that it didn't make their "cut" of what they chose to keep. I also really only buy gifts for nieces and nephews, so I buy them gifts expecting to see them play with the toys, or wear the cloathes, etc.
I get that, but isn't it better that your gift will go to someone who will really enjoy it (even if it isn't the child you bought it for)?
I feel like I would be kind of sad if I picked a gift out for a kid that I thofht they would like to then find out that it didn't make their "cut" of what they chose to keep. I also really only buy gifts for nieces and nephews, so I buy them gifts expecting to see them play with the toys, or wear the cloathes, etc.
I get that, but isn't it better that your gift will go to someone who will really enjoy it (even if it isn't the child you bought it for)?
I would be fine with donating, but I would personally rather know that up front. I wokld actually probably spend a little more if it was going to a charity. I just try to go out of my way to get a special gift for the kids that I purchase gifts for would rather have full disclosure than to find out my gift wasn't in his or her top choices to keep.
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