Christmas presents

(Happy Christmas to anyone who celebrates it)

So today is Christmas. Yay *insert eye roll here* I'm not a big fan to be honest. It was always this big, huge ordeal growing up. Our mother always had a tree COVERED in ornaments and like a gazillion gifts. Lily loved it and Jess was ok with it but I hated it. The thing is, now that our mother is dead and we live with our father and his family in another state, we don't have that big of a Christmas anymore.

Our family here is cool, and they care about 'Kelly'. (we aren't 'out' as D.I.D yet)

The family here does a gift exchange thing instead of a huge ordeal like our mother did. Everyone buys a gift for a person of their gender and puts it in a 'pot' and then chooses one out. It's quick and easy and I LOVE it but Lily is just really sad at Christmas now because of it.

I saw some posts about getting gifts for the alters and was trying to do that for Lily, I was gonna get a Disney Princess coloring book for her cause she would like that stuff but I couldn't find one and now I don't have anything for her (or Jess either) and the gift exchange is always more adult centric so even that won't really help for Lily.

I guess that even though I usually don't give a crap about much, Lily has a hold on my heart and I want to make her happy like a big ol pansy. I don't want her to be sad cause she's a sweet kid but I'm not sure she'd get it that she's going to get a gift, just not ON Christmas day. She loves Christmas and I think not getting something on the actual DAY OF will make her sad.

Any ideas on how to explain it? I could ask Jess but I don't like showing my weaknesses to her. On here it's a bit more neutral.

To be honest, it's best to just tell her the truth: that you did try really hard to get a presents that she'd love, but that you just couldn't find it in time.. she may be sad that she won't get it on Christmas day, but it does show that you're doing your best to give her the perfect gift, instead of just something else so you'd have it on time..

Might you have time to find a picture of the book you want to get Lily? And print it out as a card? That way she has something definite to hold along with the promise.


I hope you don't mind me writing this. But I don't think it's a weakness to care about someone the way you care about Lily. Or to want them to be happy. Or even to have had too much going on to buy the presents you'd wanted. Perhaps asking Jess is a different way to show them both that you care. And that you value Lily's happiness and Jess' common sense and insight. Admittedly that's not traditional present giving. Sharing warm emotions can be nice too though. And not weak as I see it.

Hi Quinn,

Ada's idea about printing a card of the book you want to give her is awesome! You can write it to her, something like: "This is valid for a Disney Princess coloring book, that will be delivered at _____ (place), on the ______ (Date)"

This will make her feel excited about getting something she enjoys, receiving the card on the 25th, and having like a special Christmas event with you, buying ice cream, or balloons, well something she likes.

I also believe that kids understand a lot more than we usually give them credit for. So, telling her that you couldn't buy it before, but you still wanted to make her happy on this date because it's important for her, would help her understand and feel happy.

I agree with Ada, it's no weakness at all, it's cool you could ask here.

Sea

Thank you three for answering, am about to head to our family gift exchange, I will explain to Lily and I went ahead and made a print out (thank you Ada for that idea)

On a side note, wish us luck with the family gathering. They are nice people but they have some pretty unhealthy views. Update later.

Good luck! Hope it goes well. [Or just quickly!]

CopperFox wrote:Thank you three for answering, am about to head to our family gift exchange, I will explain to Lily and I went ahead and made a print out (thank you Ada for that idea)

Cool.

CopperFox wrote:On a side note, wish us luck with the family gathering. They are nice people but they have some pretty unhealthy views. Update later.

Good luck you all.

Sea