Do you ever feel like it's enough?

I go through it year after year, I always feel that we have not got them enough and yet I know deep in my heart to go any further and spend money I do not have is daft and they would not appreciate it, been there done that. I think we have got them enough, they have pjs, new character bedding, loads of sweets and toys to go in a stocking, just need some fruit I hope I do not forget when the time comes! Then their main pressies will be nintendo ds lites for the boys, peppa pig toys and dolls for my girl and a kids digital camera each. My eldest is not getting much at all because he is going in the RAF in April of next year and will need loads of kit so I said if he wanted I would buy him the majority of that for christmas. I feel a bit guilty so I have got him a stocking plus fillers and will buy him some smellies to open. He wont go without anyway my hubbys mum always goes over the top for christmas sometimes I think we need buy them nothing the amount she spends!

I think everyone feels like that at times. But you have to set priorities, bill and groceries versus Christmas gifts. The children are just happy to have gifts under the tree. And I know that some children would not be satisfied if you put more and more under the tree. I've seen kids say, after just opening gifts and throwing them aside, "Is that all?" Well, to me, that isn't appreciation; it's expectation. So, buy what you can afford and don't worry about buying 'more'.

Love, time and caring are the greatest gifts you can give your children. Look around your house, how many toys do they have already? Two toys per child plus clothes seems to be a generous gift. They also need to use their imagination and create their own entertainment to stimulate their brains and thinking. My sister and I were just talking about this. Her granddaughter who is 4 years old comes for a sleep over one night on the week-end. There are a fair number of toys that my sister and hubby bought for thc child but the other grandma is quite wealthy and the gifts she bestows on the child are overwhelming. My sister tries to mitigate this since it would be sad if this lovely child would grow up to idolize and crave only material things. My sister tells me that often at her house the child entertains herself with a bag of differnt buttons, or horse chestnusts or acorns they collected on walkes together. In my own family we always gave modest gifts. Now to my delight I see my son act the same way and so does his wife. We give a small gift to each other and entertain for a really nice meal or afternoon tea. My own little grandaughter just turned one year old and I am tempted to get her all kinds of toys for Christmas but looking on how much she has already I will get her one or two taking into consideration that she will get a gift from aunts and grandparents from the other family. When is too much too much? One of my cousins is a single mom and when her partner left her she put every penny into getting stuff for her two boys to the point where she never got a new outfit for herself. I used to be invited for Christmas and made every effort to get the boys a really nice quality toy. They had so much and got so much that they did not value anything anymore. Whatever I got them was thrown into a corner after about two minutes. I really got upset since I am on a fixed income and have to watch my money. So I stopped bying them a gift. Now I don't get invited anymore. Sad, but just as well since I used to come away upset.

My wife says that ever year. Even last Christmas when the kids had so many presents that we could not see the tree (thanks to my disability check finally arriving). So I think a parent always feels some inadequacy as to what they can give the children. This year is back to a normal year with the children getting just what we can afford.

I think my kids get enough for Christmas. I don't really spend that much on them, they don't get a lot of toys, but I think it is enough. They really don't need anything. They have all the clothes, books, and toys they really need. More than they need really. I stop shopping when I think they have enough presents.

Yes absolutely so. I think we love our kids so much that even if we gave them everything it still would somehow be short according to us. Now that mine are grown and have their own lives, grown up problems and such I still worry if I do enough, offer help enough, and give them enough at Christmas, it's just crazy! Plus I believe that giving too much spoils the value of receiving a gift. The more they get, the more they expect you know. So I fight with myself, in one way I give too much and stand firm with less in another... parenting is the highest emotional roller coaster ever LOL

I do feel that way. We want them to feel as loved as possible and we want them to know we appreciate them. It seems like the more they get the better they'll know it. We want everything for them, therefore it's never enough.