Good for you! I cheered out loud when I read this! Good for you!

We stopped doing the shopping thing about 5 years or so ago. That is when I began letting our family know that donations have been made in their names to various charities. We usually do a food bank, an animal charity, and something like Red Cross or other relief agency every year. No one on my "shopping list" needs anything, really, and we don't have the time, energy or money to shop for all those gifts that get unwrapped and returned anyway. So we just give notes reminding them of our blessings and how we would rather bless others this time of year.

Of course, with a new (first) grandson we will be buying some gifts. But we won't be the set of grandparents piling on the gifts. Hopefully we will be the ones able to give some really good memories and interesting experiences, and our gifts will just become reminders of those times.


And you are not alone feeling overwhelmed at the mall, and I regularly fantasize about a flame-thrower on the front of my shopping cart at the grocery store, otherwise I might never get the shopping done!

I'm an online shopper. hate the big stores.

But I did ALL my family pressies in september to get it in the mail for land and sea postage rate for xmas. All done.

Just my boys to go and they're easy.

I have had my personal Christmas shopping done lone ago. My DH waits till the 2nd week of December all the time, and then its rush, rush, rush. All his nieces and nephews are grown with babies of their own. Our own kids are grown. We no longer go hog wild for the kids. We buy something small, and meaningful. We help thru the whole year, and not just on holidays. When Christmas rolls around, my son gets his traditional blue zip up hoodie, and my DD gets her music CD. After that, its love, affection, approval, and cheerleading.

I know better than to go to the stores after Dec 1, I really do! I dont know why I chose to get my toothbrush and cell phone then, but my old cell may or may not make it till Christmas. I would be upset if it died.

I am happy to know I am not alone. I simply dont want to tangle with the brats, bullies, and b**ches out there during the season. sheesh! What a mess.

My BP went up just reading what you said.



I shop online. Still wigging cuz I have no idea what to get for anybody, but at least it'll come to my door when I figure it out.

Thing I really hate about shopping - when you're standing by a product trying to either grab it or decide if you want it, and people expect you to just move along so they can get through. Hello? It's a store and I'm trying to put things in my cart here.



Dh always gives in. I let them go around or wait.

And the parking lot. WHY do people HAVE to drive right past the door? Unless you're dropping someone off, WHY do they have to drive right where EVERYONE is going to walk? LOL that slays me. I park at the way back of the lot and walk it.

I once loved Christmas and shopping and creating magic for my two in presents and fun traditions. But MS and their age has changed all that. Their new wants are not stuff I know - technology, etc. I start in summer, get a reasonable pile, but DD wants $$$ to buy own clothes, we differ in taste. DS wants guitar related stuff and electronics, way outside my ken. DH thought the decorating, buying and food magic side of Christmas just happened, now sees some grownup has to do it and is amazed. I remember Christmas Eves of screwdrivers, batteries, etc. as small kids want to play as soon as they see their new toys. He slept through all that, having eaten Santa's cookies already. Now I just put out stuff to decorate I really like.

I used to decorate, and spruce up, and the house was filled with laughter, children, relative, and song. it was sparkling clean, and so merry and bright. The tree was stuffed with presents, both under, and upon it. now...its not gonna happen. I dont have the strength, the energy, the time, or the desire to work myself silly. The children are grown with lives of their own. We go visit relatives that have small ones in the house, and are happy with that. There is no work to put it all up, and no work to get it all back down, and into the boxes. I donated it to the homeless shelter, and they use the stuff every year.

I miss those days. I miss that laughter, and the anticipation of the kids waiting to see if santa got that bike or that doll for them. The giggles and the smiles. I am at the in between stage. The kids are grown, but no babies of their own. They have committed partners, but are busy with careers and not worried about babies coming home yet.

Till then, I am just gonna try to enjoy the quiet time of reflection.

I'm at that stage, too, Dej. I truly miss the anticipation of the kids as Christmas got closer and closer. I tried to instill in them the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate. My youngest DS (when he was about 6) wanted to have a birthday party for Jesus one year.....and we did! It was fun. I was glad that he understood why we celebrate and not just the material and commercial aspect of it. Too many people just see the "what's in it for me" side of the holiday.

I got my Wii fit plus today!

I ordered it online, got free shipping and the UPS hunk with the cute tush (oops; I meant to say the nice young man) brought it right to my door.

Merry Christmas to me and to DH when he is able to get up and move to the groove.

His Christmas gift from me is a ride in a race car at Vegas speedway but we have to wait till he heals from his bypass but it's a good incentive to get all better.

I can't take the crowds and noise anymore at all. I used to love it! I musta been nuts !

Unfortunately I can't afford to shop for Christmas until January this year . This has never happened before. I'm not even getting a tree. My kids say they're fine with this but it is just sooo not okay with me. I love to take the time to figure out what each person really wants and then see their happy faces on Christmas morning .

I'm in the process of separating from my husband and it's gonna be a strange year anyway so this makes it worse somehow. Okay, now that I've hijacked the thread and whined my way through this post (sorry btw), I'm gonna get my son to climb up in the attic and get the little fake tree that's up there! I think I'll make each kid and their girlfriends their favorite cookies on Christmas eve and wrap them up for the morning! . No mall for me !