I have a child. Yup, and come Christmas time it's hard too as that fact. Some of my friends do not. Watching them go through the holidays makes me remember how much cheaper it could be, and there's just less to do. I get the better rewards on Christmas morning though!
Today I'm thinking about how those friends almost get shorted when it CDs to Christmas gifts. They buy one for me and one for my girl, but inevitably they almost always get just one back from both of us. This is mostly because my daughter is too young to buy presents for people, and partly because money is tight at Christmas and its hard to buy two gifts for everyone and still cover the rest if my bills. So my solution is that she should make something for them, or they should buy us joint gifts as well. I can't seem to invent any other fair exchange...
I've noticed this happens with couples too. The single friends get and give one gift per couple. It seems fair because it works both ways, but this buying for kids thing tips the scales.
I'd like to take just a moment to thank all my friends who have become part of this cycle, and I hope they know that one day when they have children and mine is older that the same thing will happen the other way around. I will end up buying something for them and their child, and they will buy only for me. In groups where everyone has children this is clearly an easier solution, children but for children and adults buy for adults, OR everyone only buys for the children.
Merry Christmas and good luck getting all your gifts on time!
Today I'm thinking about how those friends almost get shorted when it CDs to Christmas gifts. They buy one for me and one for my girl, but inevitably they almost always get just one back from both of us. This is mostly because my daughter is too young to buy presents for people, and partly because money is tight at Christmas and its hard to buy two gifts for everyone and still cover the rest if my bills. So my solution is that she should make something for them, or they should buy us joint gifts as well. I can't seem to invent any other fair exchange...
I've noticed this happens with couples too. The single friends get and give one gift per couple. It seems fair because it works both ways, but this buying for kids thing tips the scales.
I'd like to take just a moment to thank all my friends who have become part of this cycle, and I hope they know that one day when they have children and mine is older that the same thing will happen the other way around. I will end up buying something for them and their child, and they will buy only for me. In groups where everyone has children this is clearly an easier solution, children but for children and adults buy for adults, OR everyone only buys for the children.
Merry Christmas and good luck getting all your gifts on time!