Christmas Mania

The time has come. I am finally a parent at Christmas. Now I have to answer the ever important question: how much stuff should I buy my child for Christmas?

When I was growing up, we always had lots of presents, but they were mostly small--socks, pajamas, etc. We would get a couple medium presents, and maybe one big one. We never got the kinds of things I see my students getting now: Ipods, PSPs, etc. My parents found a way to make the holidays special on a budget, without spoiling us.

One thing my mom really focused on was talking about the wanting. Wanting is what makes life exciting, what motivates me to work hard and to behave. Anticipation and desire are among the most important and fun feelings around. When I was little, I actually felt sad in my heart for the spoiled rich kids who had nothing left to want because they were given everything they could ask for. I was so grateful to be regular, in a family on a budget.

As a parent, I want to recreate the values my parents instilled in me. However, I also have the American Desire tendencies--I want my child to have everything I never had. My first instinct is to buy everything I see. So far, I have gotten a keyboard, a basketball, 3 pajama outfits, 4 onsies, a foam floor mat puzzle, and a stuffed pony. I also plan to get him some socks and shoes. Now, most of these things are items he needs, or that I want him to have. Plus, he's too young to understand what all he gets. But I worry about setting a precedent.

I have heard from other families that they have a system for gift giving. For example, they might give three gifts per child, because that is how many Baby Jesus got. I like that idea, but I am not sure I am ready to let go of the vision of a Christmas tree surrounded by mounds and mounds of presents.

Ideas? Suggestions?

Sick Kids

I have had to deal with sick kids before, but never my own. It is very difficult. My son has been fighting all sorts of sickness in the last couple of weeks: stomach flu, a cold, pink eye, a double ear infection, and an allergic reaction to a medicine. Fortunately for everyone, he is a cheerful kid and has not been too fussy. But that leads to problems, too.

My main concern is that I don't know when he is in pain. He is too young to comunicate clearly, so I have to watch for signs. But he's so cheery all the time, I don't know if that means he is really doing fine. He is covered head to toe with a red rash. The doctor said it is a reaction to the ear infection medicine, but it looks like chicken pox. I believe the doctor, but I have this instinct to assume he is itchy. I am sure he isn't, but I can't let go of the idea of itchyness.

Meanwhile, I am fighting what is probably the worst cold I've ever had. If he is feeling the same as I am, he must be miserable. But if he were miserable, wouldn't he let me know somehow?

I know I am not nearly done dealing with sick kids in my life. But I am looking forward to my son having enough communication skills to let me know what's wrong with him.

Vegetarian Gripes, Part 1

I figured that it would be a challenge to raise a vegetarian kid. I figured that at some point, Fox would go to a friend's house, and the friend's parents would forget and feed him meat. I assumed I would face challenges like that. But I didn't think it would happen so soon.

My son is 10 months old. Today, at daycare, someone fed him a cheeseburger. When my husband first told me, I was shocked. How could that even happen? I made it clear through communications with his teachers, both orally and in writing, that Fox is not to eat meat. I suppose with the holiday things are out of sorts, because someone who isn't normally in the infant room was the one in charge of him, and she didn't know. She felt bad.

Well, she should feel bad. What if Fox had an allergy? What if we had a religious stance that forbade eating beef? What if, what if. This is a big deal to me. Our family has made a conscious decision to be vegetarian, and it is something we take very seriously. It seems so irresponsible to me to be so careless as to disregard the wishes and practices of a family. Not everyone in the world is vegetarian, I know that. But I think every family has certain views on how things should be done. Some parents spank, while others are against that. Some let their babies cry it out, while others rock them to sleep each night. Some feed them meat, others don't. How difficult can it be to be mindful and respectful of what we feel is right? We do pay 215$ a week for three days of care. Is it too much to ask?