To think this is the embodiment of miserable fuckers

[Scrooooooooge]

Something they want

something they need

something to wear

something to read

I mean - how bloody joyless is that bloody thing?

Thats what I’m asking though. So not just the want, need, wear, read thing in the end.

I always thought that was genus. I don’t stick to it though.

@DashboardConfessional with a 5 year old no a coat isn’t a gift really. But a 13 yo year old who wants a moose knuckles or whatever brand expensive coat, the coat really is the gift , when they could just have a standard one from next

It is joyless. And imagine only getting four presents for your kid. Pretty miserable.

Not only do we ALWAYS use the poem, OP...but we also try to buy DCs gifts second-hand!

🌍

Quite flexible. I'd count a bicycle or a laptop for example. My mother used to buy us soap/shower sets as teenagers, I suppose that this would count too but I wouldn't actually buy it as a present because to me soap is just soap, I don't need anything fancy. I remember as a small child asking for (and getting) an umbrella, which even though it was something I wanted, it is also something useful so would slot into the "need" category.

This of course is in addition to the toy/games console that you actually want.

That coat comes under "something to wear" anyway.

Four tree presents from parents seems a lot to me.

One each, plus stockings.

So no, I', not going to increase the amount we get (though I suppose a fair amount of what goes in stockings could count as 'need')

It's sensible but very miserable.

Just give them a smack for christmas.

Bah humbug.

Seriously, the 'embodiment of misery' is not about how many Christmas presents you get.
Agree with a PP - it's about the thought that goes into it, not what category it falls into etc. Every person is different. If it doesn't work for you, OP, ignore it, but stop being over dramatic.

Only four presents?! As though that’s a bad thing? I don’t even bother with the “need” or “wear” categories, they get one thing they want from us and there’s usually a book or two in their stocking with a few other bits. They also get presents from each grandparent, various aunts and uncles, plus a couple of friends.

They have never complained or been disappointed by not getting a huge pile of presents, and if they ever did they’d be given extremely short shrift. They have a lovely Christmas Day and they want for nothing. They get plenty bought for them all year round (including everything they need and lots of stuff to wear), I’m not buying them heaps of stuff for the sake of it at Christmas. Before I had kids I watched my nephew sob his way through piles of presents completely overwhelmed on Christmas Day and swore I was buying one carefully considered thing my children would actually enjoy and that was it.

You do you OP.

All right, Dudley Dursley.

So you would buy them a bike and a PS4 for their Christmas?

I get them just one. Plus a stocking. (They get presents from other people too.) They seem to have a very happy Christmas Day to me.

Some people don’t understand the meaning of the word miserable.

@plinkypots this is what I mean. I've certainly felt guilty when clearing out cupboards and coming across 'gifts' (I'm not going to count them as 'presents', see the video below) that never got touched.

I like it this year for my one year old:

Something he wants: I know he'd love a toy police car with flashing lights so that's what he's getting

Something he needs: he needs pyjamas because he's nearly outgrown the last size

Something to wear: he also needs more jumpers for winter

Something to read: I'll buy him a few "that's not my" books.

He'll get a stocking on top of that with little sensory toys in it and he'll be spoilt rotten by family.

As he gets older there's loads of scope in that rhyme. Something they need doesn't have to be boring. I'd have loved things to wear and read as a young pre-teen and older teenager too. Something they want could be the big, main present and we'll always do a stocking. Add in gifts from family and that's loads!

Always give something that you like and would want!
It's a great way to leave a lasting legacy!
You and your gifts will be spoken about for generations!

Seriously? What's wrong with receiving four thoughtful, expensive presents.
DD wants an expensive item for her hobby. Club allows you to borrow when you start, but as she wants to continue we will count this as her need gift from us. So in effect she will get two "want" presents as we'll get something else from her list too. I'm willing to pay extra for character/branded clothing rather than plain when it's a gift. She will be delighted with it. I've also a list of books she's asked for over the past few months.
In addition to that, I get the DC a gift to share - either a board game or Nintendo game etc.

I don't think it hurts to question, when you're buying, whether or not the recipient really needs or wants a gift or if they will use it.

They’re “happy” because they know nothing else.

DH’s family was like yours. Since he joined mine as a teenager and saw how we do a proper Christmas—fill the living room with presents—he sees how miserable it was.

Giving a child who hates books a book is a waste of time money and effort its not "the one" that will convert him never has been never will be stop wasting your time he likes graphic novels he has adhd he hates walls of words his brain doesn't process them quick enough and literally wasting your money because he just.wont.read.it

It isn't compulsory.

If you did want to follow do so, there is no reason why it couldn't be a graphic novel.

You can give a graphic novel. Books come in many formats.

For DD that’s always been her birthday. A date with individual meaning that she doesn’t share with the majority of the planet.

I can see I’ve sparked some strong feelings. I think it’s really miserable to only give children one thing they want for Christmas. I get that they may also want something to wear or a book, but honestly, who limits clothes and books to Christmas / birthdays? I’d hope no one, although I get times are tough for many. Something they need isn’t a gift, so in essence you’re saying they can have one thing.

I don’t like mounds of gifts either but I don’t really see what’s wrong with four things they want, myself. Unless that’s an iPad, laptop, MacBook and a car I suppose