It's OVER!

Well, the season of mixed upness for me is ending. Cultural confusion as my spouse and his family are Jewish, I am not christian but do celebrate Christmas for the tradition of green life in the house, renewal of life in the darkness, and family. This year we were negligent mostly with the observation of Channukah. Gifts from in laws to kids. Kids enjoy that and do know their hebrew songs and prayers. I struggled with the whole gift thing for Christmas. I think that even as kids are older they don't necessarily understand financial limits. Not that they really asked for stuff but my wish to give them gifts of the heart. My youngest tried on a coat a few months ago when I was doing something in a small little clothing store in town. She hates coats, says the arms are too short and she feels confined. Thus a teenager going out in 15' weather with her mom in a flutter because I KNOW she will freeze. So I put the coat on lay-away, an expensive one at that. But I knew she would like it. A friend of mine had given me polar fleece socks and a vest for her as well. My son presented me with several pairs of pants when he was home over thanksgiving. They were mostly rags. I had already gotten him a few things and gave him a pair of jeans. He got clothes, 5 pairs of pants, a sweater, and a polo shirt. Some of this was second hand stuff. 4 pairs of pants were carharts that he will have difficulty ripping. He also got socks. My oldest daughter got a cd player for her car, a pair of very nice boots, and soaps, lotions etc. Everyone was content and another year gone. I struggle with expectations for this time of year. I want to have my kids get things that are cool and meaningful to them. I did NOTHING yesterday but watch movies while the kids cooked. Then I ate and couldn't move. Oh my. I think they are understanding a bit. But they don't know about money. My youngest speant about 175.00 on gifts and food. And I can't see where it went? We are not a commercial family. I am a painfully practical person. The impractical thing was the car stereo but she's a teen and teens have cd players.

Hmmm. I'm glad Christmas is almost over - I include New Years in this same holiday. Havent had much sleep these days, so pls forgive if I don't make sense.

Teens - and kids too. I think that if it doesn't really hurt them (physically or otherwise) I'd let them do what they want and suffer the consequences. Such as: spending their own money to buy things; get cold, if they don't wear warm clothes; and if they don't want to eat just because they don't 'like' the food, then they can either make it themselves or go hungry. Of course if they're too young to cook, then they can go hungry. One meal isn't gonna hurt them.

((((((((((((((((ww))))))))))))))))))) you deserve lots of rest. Hope 2005 will be much better for you. hugs.

Same here SS... not over till new years.. then I get depressed, except this year I will be going to Hawaii!!!

It's funny, I was rambling and thought I had deleted this instead of posting it. Oh well. I agree ss with the cold thing but here you get stuck or brak down and are out in the cold for a few minutes it becomes life and death. Not bad when they were little and the teachers would let them experience frozen feet etc as a natural consequence. But, they need to have boots, gloves and heavy coats with them at all times. I noticed the older girl is leaving a lot of heavy clothes in her car so I know she gets it. Hoildays are so over now. Son will be with girlfriend new year's eve. I am relieved. Mostly worried about money for the next few weeks. I also come from a place of severe neglect so I have this big thing about my kids having appropriate clothes. In fact I laughed the other day when my son said he needed socks because at one point he told me he had over 50 pair. His mommy is a little touchy on these issues huh? I never had decent warm clothes. No socks etc. So he got new socks. Hope everyone else survives.

Post deleted by SkyBdark

<font color="blue"> You did fine, I think, ww. I recall buying a whole wardrobe for my older son one birthday in May. He took everything back and shopped for his own cloethes at a discount store. By that Christmas, he begged me to buy him the nice clothes at the upscale store Like I had for his birthday. I did, and that time he didn't return anything! Sometimes they learn quickly, sometimes more slowly, and some things, well you wonder if they ever learn!