Not enough...

**baxjul** · 12-25-2009, 12:02 AM

I just put the presents under the tree,... and there aren't very many... I'm so afraid my dd will be disappointed. I'm crying.

**mauimagic** · 12-25-2009, 12:06 AM

Julie - please don't be so hard on yourself and please don't underestimate your daughter. You've done the best you could and that is just perfect. She has presents under the tree!! Don't we all want to give our children everything - it just isn't possible.

Turn out all but the Christmas tree lights and enjoy the beauty of your tree and the peace of the night.

Have a wonderful day tomorrow and enjoy the love of your family. That's what she'll remember most.

**Libby** · 12-25-2009, 12:08 AM

I agree with MM. Its not the quantity - its about the whole total experience

Enjoy it.

**baxjul** · 12-25-2009, 12:09 AM

Thank you. I'm so emotional. This has got to be the worst year ever. Thank you so much.

**DJ1972** · 12-25-2009, 12:10 AM

I agree with maui, very well said. I think we, as parents, put too much pressure on ourselves to create the perfect Christmas for our children. I am sure she will have a wonderful day!

**NikoSan999** · 12-25-2009, 12:14 AM

Honey all you can do is the best you can do. That's all any of us can do anymore. She has things to open. She has you. Please don't cry. Play with her tomorrow. THAT she will remember for always. When she's 30 she won't remember what present she got but she WILL remember you playing with her. That's a promise. Came from my 39 year old to me and now I'm telling you. THAT'S what she'll remember. So stop crying and plan out what you're going to play with her...barbies, board games, old maid....whatever she chooses will be a gift...for both of you.

**carlitasway** · 12-25-2009, 12:24 AM

Please don't cry

**Palooka** · 12-25-2009, 01:02 AM

MM said that very well. I'm sure your dd will be very happy.

Please don't feel bad. I have felt this way before and it all turned out fine.

**pollypurebred39** · 12-25-2009, 01:34 AM

Niko is right, "When she's 30 she won't remember what present she got but she WILL remember you playing with her. That's a promise."

And listen to Maui, don't be so hard on yourself.

Sending lots of

your way.

**Rebookie** · 12-25-2009, 01:42 AM

Just love her extra hard tomorrow.

**MTS04** · 12-25-2009, 03:47 AM

Fill your house with love and there will be more than your daughter could ever imagine under that tree. It's not the quantity, it's the quality of the day.
As a child, my parents scraped by. Christmas was always a hard time of year for them. Funny, they recall Christmases as being thin or bare under the tree; I remember them as being full and fun.
It's all in what you make of it. To this day, I can still smell the chestnuts roasting, hear the coffee brewing and hear the music that played while we opened our gifts. My grandparents would come over with fresh baked biscuits and marmalade, and my Aunt Helen would show up in her PJ's and we'd sit around and enjoy the morning.
To me, that's what Christmas is in my memory. 1 gift or 10, it's not about that, it's the feeling of the day and the closeness of family.

Please don't cry. Smile, laugh and love.

Wishing you peace and good tidings.

**sabrelvssammy** · 12-25-2009, 07:23 AM

i agree with everyone here....one on one momtime is the best present here....sure there are lots of trees out there with lots of presents under them...kids ripping open the packaging and just tossing them aside and digging for the next....the parents not even paying much attention....you can give and do better than that....you can give of yourself....and that's the 'most bestest' present she will get this year....

spend x-tra time with her today...make her feel special...invite her into the kitchen and let her help you....make her the 'special chefs asst'....let her get 'involved'.... make cookies if you have the ingredients....take some to the neighbors or to anyone you know that doesn't have much...explain to her how lucky you guys are and how you may not have much but you still have enough to help others.... do a craft together....make a 2009 x-mas scrapbook with crayons and cutouts..... just put your thinking cap on and try to remember what it felt like when you were exactly her age....what did you enjoy doing???

you know...when i had my brothers kids down over the thanksgiving holiday and i kept wondering how on earth do i entertain a pack of kids that will show up with their video games/port dvd players, and god knows what else because they are accustomed to having and getting everything under the sun that their little hearts desired i was taken by complete surprise when they ditched everything they brought and WANTED to string popcorn garlands for the birds...WANTED to smear p butter on pine cones (that we went out into the forest first to collect and they had a blast)... rolled them in birdseed and then took them back out into the forest....they wanted to play games...and do crafts....

the point is...they just wanted to be played with and noticed and they threw aside all the 'artificial stimulation' without a second thought that weekend.....if you give her 'momtime'....she won't even notice the amount of presents that are or aren't under the tree this year....

**AmyBoz** · 12-25-2009, 10:27 AM

Julie,
I'd love to hear how it went. My guess is that dd loved the day, because it was a Christmas spent with you. You are a great Mom and that's the best gift of all.

**hotprincesscm** · 12-25-2009, 10:36 AM

Awwww I feel bad!! I'm sure everything went fine! I felt the same way, There wasn't much under the tree! But the boys were thrilled with what they did get and never really noticed that there wasn't 100 gifts there! Big hugs for you!