Yeah, I know, it's only the end of October....but on the other hand, it's already the end of October!!! I'm one of those people who likes to get her Christmas shopping done early. Emily and Gabe are no sweat....they start making lists during the summer. But Sam, she's another story. I went through this last year, too. What do I get for Sam? She doesn't ask for things. She's pretty unimpressed with most toys. She has a few favorites that she plays with, but new ones usually get cast aside. She likes her "Bear in the Big Blue House" books, but we already have stacks and stacks of those. She doesn't open presents at all.
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| Maybe Bear could come to our house for Christmas! |
Am I buying presents for Sam, or are they actually for me? It's become pretty obvious that I'm not buying them because she wants them. It's because of my expectations of what Christmas is...(I know that gift giving isn't what Christmas is all about, but as a parent I still want to buy some presents for my kids). With Sam I've had to put many of my expectations aside, and I'm (usually) ok with that. It has to be the same with Christmas. So if I can't find anything at all to buy for her that's ok. She doesn't care. I might find something I think she'd like and I might not. It's all good. I know she'll enjoy playing with the Christmas tree and eating Christmas cookies. Those simple things will make Sam happy, and so they'll make me happy, too. :)
“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons.
It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags.
And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.
What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.
What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”
----the Grinch Who Stole Christmas
6 comments:
This is a lovely post and definitely puts me in the holiday spirit! 60 days is a very short time! Love the countdown!
My son used to be the same way as your daughter. He could not unwrap anything until last Christmas. He started showing interest in presents when he was about 4 but even then still did not get the concept.
While the "holiday spirit" focus would actually be a great thing, I'm thinking she'll be coming round in a couple more years... Enjoy it while you can!! ;)
The little boy I used to care for was in love with Shrek, we bought him stuffed Shreks, talking Dunkeys, he seemed to get excited about them all, he also liked the ugliest toys you could find. Do you think Sam might like a stuffed "Bear" from Bear in the Big Blue House? I saw in the one pic she likes to look out the window, what about sun catchers to hang on the window, they cast light in pretty colors around the room? I actually have not been able to buy presents for my children for a few years, I always stress over Christmas... but somehow they always have a great Christmas, so I kinda get where you're coming from on the whole traditional gift giving at Christmas.
I agree, there are way too many fun things about Christmas that our kids love to let the lack of enthusiasm about presents ruin it. Who cares about presents when you have a tree with lights and shiny things right in your living room?
Although I will say this- I'm OK with my son ignoring the presents we give him. But it's SO hard to watch him open a present from someone else who doesn't "get it," and have to act excited for him, make up stuff about how he'll love it later, etc. That is the part I dread.
I guess the hard part for me is that she doesn't get it. That's what makes my heart ache.
She does have all of the stuffed animal characters from Bear, but I did find a Bear backpack on ebay this morning!
We have a very small family and they all accept Sam for who she is...I'm thankful for that.
((hugs)), Christine. I know, I know. My son was exactly like that at her age. And Christmas was heart-wrenching.
Turns out for Jack so much of it was overwhelming because of his sensory issues. The unwrapping of a present - sound of paper tearing, having to tear the paper, sticky tape, scratchy ribbons - all too much. The flash of cameras - way too much. But even the excitement of the unknown and surprise was too much. I wish I'd know this earlier. 'Cause now Jack tells me: no wrapped presents, in a bag only, Mom. And no flash pictures. Of course as he's gotten older, he can regulate better.
I don't know if any of that helps. But I get ya, babe. Totally.
Oh Christine...I'm so sorry that you hurt. Skylar's first Christmas was really tough! She was so overwhelmed with all of the people, presents, & noise that she only opened one gift and then played in another room away from everyone the rest of the night. It took her a week to open all the rest of the presents.
Although we had many difficult Christmas', she now loves to open all the gifts and squeals with delight with each one.
I'm sure that you will do a great job making this holiday special for Sam & the rest of your family.
Hugs my friend!
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