On the subject of presents

My last few projects have been about presents for the girls, and I thought I might explain the whats, and whys of our present giving (well I say our, but since I organise everything, DH just goes along with whatever I've done).

Those of you who are observant will know that J is getting three presents for her birthday.  That's one from me, one from DH and one from P.  If/when she has any other siblings then she'll get one from them as well.  As a general rule, the girls presents are handmade, thrifted and/or made from natural materials.  I try not to buy the girls things for no reason either.

Christmas presents are a little different.  Father Christmas gives them presents, and they will each get quite alot, but again, mostly small, handmade gifts.  As well as these they will each get a main present, something more substantial.  This year, P has informed me that Father Christmas will give her a bike.
 
I love to make their presents, and I love giving them things, but I am trying to teach them at the same time.  We live in a consumerist society, where we are bombarded by messages telling us we need more stuff, that our lives are incomplete without bigger and better stuff.  I want the girls to learn that this is not true, that we don't need a whole heap of material possessions to be fulfilled, and that the love with which presents are given is the most important thing.

All of which is easy at the moment, because they are too young to know any better.  Once they get a bit older, I'm sure that they will feel terribly hard done by that we are such mean parents to not give them all the things they want all the time, but I'm okay with that.