to find level of consumerism over Christmas slightly nauseating..

[sockmuppet]

I am not judging others as I am party to this group activity at this time of year but as each year passes with my 3 dc's I have come to both love and dread the season in equal amounts.

Whenever I am out and about I see so many examples of children acting unbelievably "spoilt" (including my own) as they fail to cope with the sheer volume of consumerist activity surrounding them.

AIBU to be starting to find the whole over indulgence slightly nauseating and think that I am not alone in feeling this way?

Ds3 and I have been to the school Christmas fayre where we saw Santa. We have been to the school Concert and carol singing in aid of charity. I have taken part in the secret Santa at work and organised a coffee morning for charity. Ds3 has an advent Calendar and has been to the pantomime. We have done plenty but nothing that smacks of nauseating consumerism.

Dh and I don't buy presents for each other and we don't buy for other adults. We buy our children 2 gifts each and a stocking. They don't have any grandparents and receive small gifts or money (£10 ish) from 3 aunties and 2 friends.

We have a 'Sunday roast' with Christmas pudding and don't buy lots of extra food and sweets. No one has complained yet. It's what you make it. This is how we like it.

My friend spends thousands. Her house looks like Santa's grotto but she can afford it and that's the way she likes it so it's up to her.

Consumerism preoccupation of society with the acquisition of consumer goods

Consumerism is the same as over indulgence.

Don't be preoccupied with buying stuff. You don't have to be. Its not the important bit.

The important bit for us is having the whole family (mine and dhs sides) together.

We are not even having a traditional dinner.
Next year choose to not be preoccupied by it and enjoy it.

Life can be hardwork and heartbreaking. It moves very fast and is not simple. Families are broken, people work long hours. For some its a few days of enjoyment before the next onslaught. Or even a few snatched hours.

You can enjoy being with family and having quality time AND eat nice food and open some nice gifts. It can be an extra special day , that scream of excitment on a childs face at a stack of presents may be getting a work a way parent through the year. Some people may over do it because they dont often get the chance.

sockmuppet - hehe we both fell into the same maths trap. I was trying to be too clever.

Basically give 3 times what you spend on Christmas to charity.

brady

"Next year choose to not be preoccupied by it and enjoy it."

I may give up as you don't seem to be understanding my point.

We are ALL surrounded by a preoccupation with Christmas, it is everywhere and I find it nauseating. The mere fact I celebrate Christmas means I have had to think of gifts and food even on a very low scale. Put the TV, Christmas gifts are advertised, go to the supermarket for a regular shop and you are bombarded by Christmas offers for months, go to work and the decorations and secret santa gift buying is in full swing. Then there's the endless events and parties all about buy buy buy over indulge. I am Not saying I do secret santa or go to loads of events but I am surrounded by them.

I am not saying I over indulge I am saying I buy a few gifts and some nice food (in moderation) BUT I am party to the whole ridiculousness of Christmas because I choose not to opt out. Therefore in some way I am party to this craziness.

It is the whole madness that I find nauseating. Not anything to do with me personally.

AndyD

I like your thinking mind you

Yanbu. I hate the deification of Santa and the "tradition" of buying immense tins of biscits and chocolates that have appeared in recent years. My eldest is being particularly hyper at the moment but I think its excitement rather than being spoiled. I agree with other posters who say that church helps counter the consumerist message. And long walks as a family are good (once the whining has dissipated!)

I love christmas. Sits here with glass of wine looking at tree, smelling candles, cards up, house pristine, firsts guests to arrive in about an hour. Been to church - about to make up one more bed and do some wrapping. Will be going to church tomorrow and on Christmas day - involved in my church community greatly.

The DC have some lovely presents but don't expect it. DS, who is 18 (on Xmas day) has absolutely no idea there is a car waiting for him (albeit an old banger) and wouldn't dream of asking for one. We also have a shed full of food in the house, mostly because with the first guests we are six tonight, six tomorrow, 8 on Christmas day, and 9 on boxing day. The ham will make a carbonara and a minestrone when they have gone and the turkey carcass will provide lunch time soup for a weekend or two. Usually on 27th I go out and buy goodies, much reduced, like cheese and pates to keep us going with the soup for a fair few days.

I adore Christmas, we celebrate it with family and friends and I love making sure everyone has a lovely time.

You are right. I don't understand. Because your point keeps changing. Christmas doesn't have to be about consumerism.

I know several people who just have family round and exchange small token gifts. No decorations or anything and the gifts are all practical. My friend had a service on her car paid for.

I manage to not get swept up in it. Others can do what they want. Why anyone would be be upset by others, I don't understand. And I am quite happy that I don't.

Christmas and any other day of the year is what you make it. So make it how you want. And ignore others activities and spend the festive period not feeling nauseous.

There is only you that can change how you feel about Christmas. You can change others actions.

I no longer call this feast Christmas. It has become a consumer-fest or greedifest to me, sadly.

YANBU, consumerism is everywhere. We were going to take our 2 dc to a carol concert at our local church last night, only to get there and find out they were charging £16 a ticket. I had a couple of quid for the collection plate in my pocket.

brady

My point has not budged one little bit.

I find the over indulgence that we are surrounded by for at least the month of December nauseating.

I presume you see the adverts on TV shouting buy buy buy, the piles of enormous chocolate tins on special in the supermarket? I assume you hear of some people spending enormous amounts of money on their kids that they can ill afford? I assume you see or hear of people going out on benders because it is the season to be jolly? (I have been walking passed vomit in the morning not normally outside bars until this time of year) I assume you hear the Christmas music in shops from October and signs everywhere advertising products? I assume you see the way Christmas is depicted on film and TV, all about receiving gifts and eating loads.

If you don't or have no opinion on what others are doing then fair enough. However, I do see all this and it makes me feel slightly nauseous. I do not over indulge in these things but I do celebrate Christmas with a few gifts and food, therefore I feel I am party to the WHOLE thing. My standpoint has not changed at all throughout this thread.

Hopefully that has cleared up my stand point.

Brady

If you re read my OP I made it quite clear that my DC's behaviour is about the consumer activity around them....not by them or me.

I really can't understand why you think I have change my opinion?