Update: You see, this is also why toy buying scares the crud out of me…
This year, I’ve been having a bit of a dilemma when it comes to the prospect of Christmas Shopping. My dilemma is: I don’t want to do any.
Actually, no, that’s not true. I don’t want to buy crap.
Not that I do, anyway. Or at least I hope I don’t. By ‘crap’ I mean petty toys or such that never get used. Or beauty products that are going to get banished to the backs of cupboards. Or something wildly inappropriate or unnecessary.
So I’ve been doing some reading. And then the other week at the OXFAM book sale, I picked up off the table a brochure of all the alternative presents you can buy for people; presents that will make a difference. I’m sure you’ve heard of them: $10 for a chicken. $25 to pay for an impoverished child’s school fees for a year. That kind of thing. I thought that would be an answer.
So I asked my sister what she thought when she was visiting. She said, “Sure – get me something like that.” Awesome. I think my mum and dad will also be cool with it.
Then I asked Adam if he thought anyone in his family might be okay with the idea too?
“Um……..” he said diplomatically. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
Because Christmas can be so fraught with tension and expectations; jealousy and desire. I’m the same. I always say, “Oh, don’t get me anything this year”, but I’m the first one under the tree, shaking the present to see what’s inside, suddenly seized with the present-gobbling-gremlins. And I wouldn’t want to deny kids the pleasure of opening a present from us. So I won’t do anything radical there, but I think the case becomes slightly different when you reach adulthood.
I just wonder at what point can you start asking people: “Can you sacrifice a little something for the bigger benefit of others?”
And just so you know – my sister’s present to me will also be an OXFAM one.
What position do you have on the whole Christmas Present plethora in the world today?
For the scoop on what other Aussie Bloggers are doing this year, go here!
