So I'm sure you've seen this Christmas list that has gone viral. A father posted his daughter's Christmas list.
And I get it, the requests are outrageous. ($4000? Same girl, same!) However. The kid is 10. I remember writing some pretty crazy things on my list. (I might have asked for Jonathan Taylor Thomas one year.)
Since the list has gone viral, it has received some not-so-nice comments. Some people say the girl is spoiled, others are making fun her spelling (she's 10), and then you have the tight wads who think the 4 gift rule is THE ONLY WAY and they keep going on about consumerism.
Look, I've written about not judging gift giving before. Not EVERYONE is going to agree that the 4 gift rule works. (If you notice, when people post about it, you'll always get that one person who goes, "4 is even too much for me. 2 is what our kids get.") And yay, good for you. But not all families are like that. Some families like more than 4 presents. Does it hurt you? No? Well, then it's fine.
Of course you should always encourage kids to give back. Mine always donate old toys or we'll get a list from a Christmas tree from a child. After all, everyone deserves to have a nice Christmas. Or whatever you celebrate.
But do not judge a kid and her list. That's tacky. Here's my daughter's list:
Yup, it's a lot. But she knows she won't be getting it all. She says she wants to give me options. And oh no, she didn't spell everything correctly or her writing isn't the best either. (People also made fun of that girl's penmanship.)
(Yes, she asked for a giraffe. It's a stuffed one found at Target. But it's $89.99 and won't be happening.)
Let's remember what it was like to be kids. And maybe you didn't have the best Christmas, and I'm sorry for that. But I think we can all agree that poking fun at a child is pretty disgusting. You might argue that her father shouldn't have posted it online to begin with, but you know, he was amused, and so was I when I saw it. So I'm glad he shared.
So did you have crazy Christmas lists?
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When I was a child, my country was recovering from the fall of the communist regime. Santa was just re-introduced and children would never even dream of writing wish lists. Usually Santa would bring oranges (a rare fruit that would only become available for a few weeks around Christmas time. If you got mandarins, which were sweet, you considered yourself a lucky kid) and a toy. And everyone was happy that there was something to open underneath the Christmas tree.
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ReplyDeleteThese lists, more than crazy, are really an inspiration to find the TRUE Christmas spirit, I believe I will adopt them in my family too!
We used to write lists all the time. No shame in it! We also used to use a catalogue to find everything we wanted, then we would circle the item/cut it out and write it on the list along with the price beside it (just to make Santa aware of the price)!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! Let kids dream and make an elaborate list. My special needs son always makes me a huge list knowing he won't get everything, but he dreams. It is the kids with a full heart that go out into the world to share...Thanks for sharing yours!
ReplyDeleteI remember doing my Christmas list as a child. And yes, my list was so so long, and I am sure I had some absurd requests. But I only got 1-2 things from my list, and that was perfect for me!
ReplyDeleteMy kids wrote a list that they knew they wouldn't get. Like computer, ipad, etc.
ReplyDeleteI don’t remember having a list with lots of things I do remember wanting a white bedside table when I was like 6 years old. It was all I wanted .
ReplyDeleteI'd like to have the $4000 too. lol. I remember making lists and my children made lists too. They knew they wouldn't get everything they wanted and that's okay. It was fun to dream.
ReplyDeleteWait does that say a bag of smarties? If so, your kid rocks!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure my lists had some ridiculous stuff on them, but kids are kind of ridiculous in general.
Haha, yes, she loves smarties!
DeleteHaha, yep! I asked for a drum set and an American Girl doll every. single. year. My kids totally couldn't afford the doll, and probably didn't want to listen to the drums, and I never got either, but it didn't stop me from asking!
ReplyDeleteI agree let kids wish for gifts. I am not a fan of making lists for Christmas but I like giving my kids small gifts and experinces instead
ReplyDeletePeople never fail to amaze me at their stupidity. It's a little girl 10!!! That is crazy. It's already such a hard time because you're not a little girl anymore but you're not yet a teenager. But grown ass adults tearing a child down over a Christmas list? People have lost their freakin' minds! I have two (twin grand kids) and I'll buy them whatever the hell they want and yes their spoiled, but their not brats either. As I'm sure this little girl isn't either. (Rena)
ReplyDeleteThe four gift thing bothers me so much. It really bothers me when people try to tell me how to parent. My kid is 15, and he's healthy and intelligent. Apparently, I did something right, Karen, but thanks for your input on his Christmas gifts lol
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh yes to all of this my friend- we def try and do more activities rather then just gifts to remember moments and memories rather then toys theyll forget about
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame that some people are so judgmental and critical of a child's Christmas wish list! I hope some of the critics read your post and realize how ridiculous it is that they are trying to weigh in on her list.
ReplyDeleteHanukah is my holiday so I certainly can’t weigh in on a child’s Christmas list. But I always assumed that a gift list includes wishes and fantasies rather than expectations!
ReplyDeleteA Christmas list is a chance for children to DREAM!!! I don't think many of those kids actually expect to receive everything on their list. I actually love to see my kids' lists because it lets me know exactly what they are thinking.
ReplyDeleteI think I probably had a real pony on my Christmas list when I was 10. My kids have asked for crazy expensive things too, but they know that there's a good possibility that it won't be under the tree. It's fun at that age to wish for luxury items and I'm sure the ones running their mouth's online about her wish list had similar ones when they were her age too.
ReplyDeleteI had heard about the post but not seen the list. I know I practically wrote down the entire Sears catalogue. I love that your daughter wanted to give you options. She's a hoot.
ReplyDeleteShe got nice hand writing, much better than mine. This post reminded me that I still need to work on my kids list for christmas. Thanks for sharing the post.
ReplyDeleteOh .. people can sometimes be so cruel. We couldn't stop our kids to wish for many things. Let's not judge them and just simply explain to them that they couldn't have it all.
ReplyDeleteI love it when I read kisa Christmas wishlist! That tree and the giraffe so cute!
ReplyDeleteI actually hadn't seen that list yet. Christmas is a very special time, and I probably had some outrageous requests on my list as a kid as well!
ReplyDeleteA Christmas list is just a list to give us an idea of what to get, but it doesn't mean that we're going to get everything that we're asking for. We always set a budget. And our son knows that.
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Hmm. I missed the post about that list, but as you mentioned she's a kid. Kids can dream and want things, however, I'm sure she knows she likely won't get it all. In our house we just do what we can. There's no set amount of gifts per kid or anything like that. Plus, we also donate old clothes, toys, and shoes too.
ReplyDeleteI heard about that list as well. Some things kids want may be expensive and crazy, but they're just kids. I wouldn't spend to much on a gift either, but I love that they even make a list. I'm glad my kids are still asking for toys and such.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a list now let the fun begin :) My favorite on the list is the Bunny aren't they are the cutest pet ever!
ReplyDeleteThe list is crazy but isn't that the point of the initial list? My 12 year old did a similar list and it was a good lesson for me to teach him that he needs to pick his top 3 and also select some lower priced items. I explained too that he will definitely not get everything!
ReplyDeleteWe don't do Christmas list in my home. Gifts are given all year long for different achievements and occasions. I believe that lists can be a good thing as it helps a child learn the art of decision making. That giraffe is so cute by the way.
ReplyDeleteMy girls love making their Christmas wish lists. The anticipation is half the fun. I don't know why anyone would feel negatively about letting a kid enjoy that however they want.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad when you hear other people being so judgmental during the holidays. I think it's important to focus on what matters -- being surrounded by those who love and cherish you.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with her list !! Kids are kids and that is what they wish to have.
ReplyDeleteI'm not worried about big things on a list. I wrote half of the JcPenney catalog on mine, when I was a kid. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post! (I also laughed out loud at the JTT comment). Our daughter is only 7-months-old and we are already spoiling her for Christmas. My husband and I have talked a lot about making sure, as she grows older, that she is appreciative of the things she gets to experience in her life and understands the value of giving back to her community. People get so bent out of shape on things -- also, grown adults making fun of a child's spelling and posting mean comments at all is more atrocious than anything that sweet girl is putting on her list.
ReplyDeleteAs they get older they ask for less, but more expensive stuff. My son now asks for anything and everything baseball related and then picks one or two big gifts. My daughter would rather have 100 smaller gifts. Thank God for a big family
ReplyDeleteMy kids are growing up and they don't really make lists any more. I miss those days though, so cherish them!!
ReplyDeleteI don't understand all of the judging about the holidays. People just need to chill out.
ReplyDeleteNice, relateable article. Holidays should be about fun and giving love. Not sure why people are judgemental. Our world is just silly.
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