To give context.. my dc are 5 and 3.
5yo asked specifically for a few things, mostly Thomas trackmaster and some bath bombs.
My 3yo asked for nothing but they were both extremely excited for Xmas and opening the presents.
We work full time and the boys do 3 clubs during early evenings so the week days are a write-off pretty much
Then weekends are often spent out, at parks, on walks, visiting friends etc.
It pained me knowing that I was spending all this money on toys which were unlikely to be played with, based on the fact that we are rarely here!
It doesn't help that its my eldests birthday 2 weeks after Xmas.
Also family and close friends always ask what they can buy, and everyone's always reluctant to give money as they're young and they say it's boring, same with clothes.
I'm working at home today and went in the playroom, looking at mounds and mounds of boxes full of unopened games, lego, playability, craft stuff. I know it will never get played with and I feel so guilty that people have wasted their money (me included) but also that its so bad for the environment.
However, I also distinctly remember many Xmas and birthdays as a little girl being so excited for the big day, and feeling very deflated that I got barely anything. I was from a very poor family. I never want mine to feel that sadness that I did but how do you balance it!
Please help!