Comments on: Rookie mom holiday confessions

By: RookieMom Heather

RookieMom Heather — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:52:09 +0000

@Marlena, That notebook is a great idea. I’ll have to try it.

As for encouraging my children to give away their toys, I’m not proud of how it happens at my house; I’m finding that its much easier to talk about it and to do it when they’re not home than to actually get them to go through with it. I also found that since we have a much younger sibling, there are some toys that they’d be willing to get rid of that I want to keep for baby (example toddler puzzles and Mr. Potato Head). We’ll keep working on it though.

By: Marlena

Marlena — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:33:07 +0000

Oh and I forgot to say, for those overwhelmed by stuff, we go through all the toys before Christmas and I have them decide what they want to get rid of. They are pretty good at it. If you have a kid who keeps everything make a five item limit to have to give away. It teaches them and helps the clutter.

By: Marlena

Marlena — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 18:29:15 +0000

My holiday cheat is a special notebook with all the things you were talking about. I keep letters to Santa, a copy of the family letter we send out and gift lists. It also has a section for family traditions. This section keeps info on how Santa works as well as favorite holiday foods and special services our family does for others. I also have lists of special books and movies we like to watch at the holidays as well. This helps me remember so I don’t feel overwhelmed. We pick what is best for the year and try not to overdo! Plus it is a great record for the kids and answers all their questions!

By: RookieMom Heather

RookieMom Heather — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:37:54 +0000

Thanks @Megan. I am always the one taking the pictures. Except for Halloween since my husband didn’t dress up, I made him photograph me with the kids and I love those pics.

By: Megan

Megan — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:59:11 +0000

I love all of these. And totally needed the reminder about getting in the picture – I was going through photos today, and it’s makes it look like I only showed up about 3 days in the past 9 months. Crazy!

By: RookieMom Heather

RookieMom Heather — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 19:53:46 +0000

@Jen, It’s good to hear that. Sad, but good. The clutter is oppressive.

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:27:42 +0000

My god… All I am working on now is just getting my house clean for the Holidays!!!

http://oururbanplayground.com/?p=801

It is going well. Dining room was tackled yesterday.

My kids have sooooo much STUFF. I am just overwhelmed with how much stuff they have. I was talking to a mom over the weekend and what she does is buy just a little to be opened on the morning for instant gratification but then what she gets are activities to do together.

I think I would rather buy Trapeze lessons at Trapeze Arts in Oakland for my 8 year old than American Girl Doll stuff, ya know what I mean??!!!

ps. The photo is perfection

By: Cara

Cara — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:22:13 +0000

The photo is adorable! With a 4 year old and a baby due January 31 (but threatening to come much sooner), the questions from the 4 year old have been “Will he be born before Christmas?” “Can I give him a Christmas present even if he’s not born?”
So I guess we might be on the other end with giving presents while still in utero!;)

By: RookieMom Heather

RookieMom Heather — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:03:19 +0000

I almost captioned that photo with all the stuff that’s wrong with it, but removed that gibberish because it’s still a cute photo. Who cares that big brother is missing, the hand is too close to the face, and the diaper is showing? They’re adorbs and that’s what counts.

By: RookieMom Heather

RookieMom Heather — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:09:53 +0000

@Susan, I’m so uptight… “don’t eat the candy!” or wanting the house to be perfectly aligned when it does not matter. I annoy myself.

@Katy, last year the baby got pacifiers in his stocking.

By: katy

katy — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 19:58:13 +0000

I’m so glad you skip presents for babies! We didn’t buy anything for my son for his first OR second Christmas (he got so much stuff from everyone else…).

This year, we’re only buying one or two small things for the baby, and this is only because our older son wants to know what baby F is getting for Christmas!

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:07:13 +0000

Great idea on the gingerbread house/babysitter activity. I’ve never made a gingerbread house, but I always stress over sticking my kid and babysitter in front of a movie with a box of pizza every time I leave. My babysitter and kid could have a blast with gingerbread, and I could allow him to eat candy while not in my presence, because otherwise his house would be decorated with dried fruit or Annie’s bunnies. I’m uptight, and I KNOW it ; )