Christmas, cont.
Dec. 25th, 2002 06:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
beandelphikiRight, I'm seeing loot counts. *grin* Well, I got the HP soundtrack (PS), driver's lessons for January (yay! I get to drive!), some extra pocket money, a black fleecy sweater, and an IOU for the set of QAF videos, first season. (They didn't come in time, so I got a letter of apology from Santa about idiot subcontractors.) Oh, and a Harry Potter doll from my sister, which was beyond funny.
We went to my Grandma's to open presents this morning, which has become a bit of chore in recent years. Once upon a time, it was fun to go to Grandma's and open all our presents as a huge extended family. The wrapping paper used to cover the floor, and my sister and I would tunnel through it when we were finished with the glee of opening all our gifts.
It's not the same now. For one thing, it's a fact that NO ONE on my dad's side of the family has bought us gifts in years. They want nothing to do with us. For another, my mother's sister Dawn is rich. My cousin Brennan, her son, gets so many expensive gifts at Christmas, it's like a Toys 'R' Us beneath the tree. At least half the presents underneath it this year were all for him. I mean, the kid has his own computer with a cable hook-up.
And this year we have no money because of Dad's walking out on us. I'm happy that I'm getting QAF, but I know it means things will be very tight for awhile.
I'm to the point now where I don't care very much how many presents I get or how big they are. But I hate seeing my little sister hurt because our cousin can have anything he wants, and for us, it's the same old story it's always been. "Too expensive." "Well, maybe." "We'll see." I remember that it used to hurt for me, too.
I wish I understood why it hurts to see other people having more than you. Maybe the worst is just that we had to be so happy for Brennan because he's family.
My sister and I have solved the problem a bit: we pass out gifts. So by the time we get to ours, Brennan has had a good head start.
When I'm a parent, I'm going to be the host of Christmas every year. And I'm going to put restrictions on how many gifts people can bring to open. If you have more, open them at home. Holidays are not the time for capitalism.
Reminds me. I wonder if we're going to see Dad this Christmas. We have a DVD we bought for him - Lethal Weapon, director's cut.
I wonder if he got us anything. Not because I'm worried about getting more loot. Because I need to know if he's written off his kids like the rest of his family.
We went to my Grandma's to open presents this morning, which has become a bit of chore in recent years. Once upon a time, it was fun to go to Grandma's and open all our presents as a huge extended family. The wrapping paper used to cover the floor, and my sister and I would tunnel through it when we were finished with the glee of opening all our gifts.
It's not the same now. For one thing, it's a fact that NO ONE on my dad's side of the family has bought us gifts in years. They want nothing to do with us. For another, my mother's sister Dawn is rich. My cousin Brennan, her son, gets so many expensive gifts at Christmas, it's like a Toys 'R' Us beneath the tree. At least half the presents underneath it this year were all for him. I mean, the kid has his own computer with a cable hook-up.
And this year we have no money because of Dad's walking out on us. I'm happy that I'm getting QAF, but I know it means things will be very tight for awhile.
I'm to the point now where I don't care very much how many presents I get or how big they are. But I hate seeing my little sister hurt because our cousin can have anything he wants, and for us, it's the same old story it's always been. "Too expensive." "Well, maybe." "We'll see." I remember that it used to hurt for me, too.
I wish I understood why it hurts to see other people having more than you. Maybe the worst is just that we had to be so happy for Brennan because he's family.
My sister and I have solved the problem a bit: we pass out gifts. So by the time we get to ours, Brennan has had a good head start.
When I'm a parent, I'm going to be the host of Christmas every year. And I'm going to put restrictions on how many gifts people can bring to open. If you have more, open them at home. Holidays are not the time for capitalism.
Reminds me. I wonder if we're going to see Dad this Christmas. We have a DVD we bought for him - Lethal Weapon, director's cut.
I wonder if he got us anything. Not because I'm worried about getting more loot. Because I need to know if he's written off his kids like the rest of his family.
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Christmas Tidings...
Date: 2002-12-26 04:29 am (UTC)I so agree. I don't know why, either, but there is certainly something hurtful in seeing someone you love receive so little while watching others receive so much.
*big huge Christmas hugs*
and I'm so praying that your Dad comes through... for the reasons you mentioned.
*hugs again*
(Brennan sounds a little bit like Dudley Dursley... but I'm sure he's not, really. ;))
Re: Christmas Tidings...
Date: 2002-12-26 12:49 pm (UTC)Apparently, he called this morning complaining that we haven't called him. My mom reminded him that we told him we wanted to get together today to exchange gifts. We talked about this a week ago. "Oh." Click. *shrug* So we'll see.
And no, Brennan isn't like Dudley. :D He's just a typical kid. He loves getting lots of presents, what kid doesn't? And he's ten. I don't think he's really old enough to understand what's going on.