The Dilemma of Giving “Big” Gifts
Read more articles on Let Me Share With You and Holidays.December 24, 2006
Posted by Karen Amato Schwartz
December 24, 2006
Posted by Karen Amato Schwartz
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One of the downfalls of living in this day and age is that there are way too many “big” gifts waved in front of kids: high end, high-tech expensive items “everyone” has. It’s been a headache for me, and I continue to be shocked by the way almost every parent I know shells out the money.
Even items geared to babies, like Tickle Me Elmo, have parents frantic because of unavailability, and when you consider adults waiting in line outside all night for PS3, our materialism and greed is obviously pathetic.
When I was young, the most sophisticated “big” gifts may have been a stereo or musical instrument; the idea of giving phones, $30 games, and what are really fancy radios at $300 a pop would have been ludicrous to my parents. A watch, a few games, and a little money, and I was happy. Now it’s gone over the top, and I find it disheartening that I can’t fight the tide of media, marketing, and other parents.
On one hand, with so many choices and pay plans, businesses make it easy to indulge, but on the other, no kid really, truly needs the majority of this junk. I think one of the problems is that, to my knowledge, none of my daughter’s peers comprehend life without these gadgets. They don’t realize that a good many children have no choice but to go without, because their parents can barely make ends meet, and telling them this means nothing. They’re smart enough to know you can afford it, and that’s the only thing that matters to them.
This year, I’ve been torn about giving my daughter a cell phone. Granted, there are situations where it would come in handy, but to me, it is still is an adult responsibility. Even if she has taken care of mine when loaned, I have to wonder about how much of a “toy” it will become after a few months and how concern about minute use will fall by the wayside. I also worry about the issues we’ll face when we must suspend her phone privileges for poor behavior. I long for the days of toddler-hood when the wrapping paper meant as much as what was inside, and toys from the dollar store could hold her interest for days!
Now, even some of my preschoolers are getting $200 jeeps. None of them realize how lucky they are, but I’d like to hope that someday they might. I often ask myself if parents give gifts primarily to make their kids happy, or as rewards for being “good”. The answer I usually come to is the former. No one gets coal anymore. Some should.
All I can do is to cross my fingers and hope that having an adult responsibility will encourage my daughter to act more responsibly overall, and that, God willing, she doesn’t lose it before the contract expires. I tell myself that at least it’s more useful than another overpriced computer game, or clothing that will gather dust after a few weeks. (And I guess the early termination fee isn’t so bad after all!)
If you’ll be celebrating the season today and tomorrow, have a very Merry Christmas!
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