mamasaysmine

I’m guessing that many of you out there in the blogging universe are weighed down with un-needed “gifts.” (reed diffusers, scented candles, dollar-store lotion…I can go on and on)  Seriously, people.  The act of giving is great, yes, but how much money have we spent on gifts that are more about the gesture than the actual gift?

I’ll be honest here.  The only ”little” presents I like are from jewelry stores or are edible.  Other than that, the gift is your presence, not your presents.  (exception, of course, for anything from children.  I still treasure a pair of plastic teal earrings that my youngest  sister got for me when she was four because she was so excited to go buy something from the store. )  

I am personally a big fan of not doing presents between friends, especially if those presents are things that will take up space in my gift closet.  But I also understand the joy of unwrapping things.  We all love to unwrap things.  Even things that aren’t edible.

I’ve known quite a few people who set a monetary limit among friends, or among their playgroup, but somehow that amount is always fudged with by at least one person.  (think:  the Office episode where Michael Scott buys an iPod for the gift exchange)  And you know what?  I get this.  It’s way easier to find a $15 toy that you don’t feel guilty about passing on (and that you don’t worry is full of lead) than a $5 one.

But again…how many playgroups are you in?  That adds up quickly, no?  So, here’s the solution we’ve come up with among my playgroup buddies:  We do a white elephant gift exchange for moms and kids.  No one is allowed to purchase ANYTHING for the giveaway, and out-there gifts are encouraged for the moms.  (One year, my friend Stacy gifted a meat slicer.  To date, that has not been topped.)  (however, the person who GOT the meat slicer’s family are cattle ranchers, so she actually uses it.  One person’s trash and all that…)  So, pack up some stuff you no longer use for the mamas, pack up a toy that your kiddo no longer plays with (or that you simply can’t stand) for the kiddos, wrap it pretty and have a little party.  We go the extra mile and make it a potluck party, so it’s cheap, fun and does not involve buying stuff to clutter up the house.

We also have a party without the kiddos after the new year - it’s easier to find a babysitter, everyone is less stressed, and we get together with the husbands at someone’s house.  That one is potluck & BYOB too, because getting together with your buddies should be fun, not stressful, yes?  (more on this later!)

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