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XMAS GIFTS YOUR KIDS WILL CRY FOR
Published On 11-19-2009 , 10:40 AM
I am not the Grinch and this blog most certainly is not about
stealing Christmas. Having said that, readers are most likely set for
some kind of non-traditional nonsense that only The Captain, as one of
my daughter's boyfriends named me, would put forth in print.
In Dr. Seuss's "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," little Cindy and all
of the Whoville inhabitants rejoice and exhibite the holiday spirit
even though the green guy with the Santa outfit had packed his sled
and
driven off with all of their gifts he'd gone down the chimneys and
stolen from under their decorated trees.
In life, people in America have seen much harder times. While there's
bound to be some adjustments needed in many households this year and
while the troublesome economy is the back story to our money
troubles,
sometime limited amounts of cash and closed credit are actually
blessings in disguise.
Once upon a time, right here in America - the land of milk and honey -
parents didn't pack so many gifts under the decorated tree that their
children spent most of the morning unwrapping them rather than
enjoying
them.
Once upon a time, right here in America - in a place called Terry,
Miss. - my friend told me she and the rest of the kids in the family
got a fresh apple on the big morning. That was it. That was their
Christmas and they were thankful.
Just a few years ago, right here in the land of the Rose Parade- a
place called Pasadena, another friend was troubled because after her
son opened up all of his gifts, and the electronic gadget he had
wanted
so badly wasn't in the collection, he went to bed crying.
Mom needed all of her friends to help because her trouble stemmed from
her having looked everywhere for the gadget but it was sold out. She
was asking me to please, if I heard of anywhere it was in stock, to
let
her know, as the boy really had to have one.
This year news reports tell us favorite toys and gadgets will not
remain on the store shelves very long because merchants are stocking
smaller numbers of items so gift givers will need to shop early.
Well I haven't found any grocers warning that apples will not be
available in the produce section. This past week, fresh crisp Fujis
were only 58 cents per pound at Food 4 Less, and at Smart and Final,
Red Delicious apples were three pounds for just $1.49.
Of course there are the other regulars we know of such as Granny Smith
and Golden Delicious; in fact, there are over 7,000 varieties of
apples
throughout the world.
I suspect my friend Arlene from Mississippi more than likely had one
of
the apples we're all pretty familiar with - but the McClain clan,
about
a dozen kids, were all thankful.
Am I advising apples instead of gadgets this year? Well, back to the
concept of lack of cash, no credit and blessings in disguise. Giving
apples does fit the concept. Also, the many varieties of this fruit
gives the giver a unique shopping experience when it comes to
selection: size, shape, sweet, tart, crisp or even soft, and it gives
the ungrateful child recipient the chance to have a tantrum and to, we
can only hope, stay in bed for the day, having cried their self to
sleep.
Signed, The Captain
This blog can be found in our column section where you can print a copy or e-mail to someone
http://talkaboutparenting.org/pages/articles.php
Tune-in Wednesdays Noon to 1:00 p.m. Talk Abut Parenting with Shirlee Smith LIVE Call-in at 626-794-2116 or 794-2551. PCAC Charter Channel 56 in Pasadena. Return to our home page and click the channel 56 logo for streaming. See our calendar listing for show guest and for further information.
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Comment
| | 1. | Good one! It really has become outrageous. Jesus would disapprove of what his birthday has become. I know he would!!
- by Pia, 11-20-2009, 12:16 AM
| | 2. | Thank you for publishing your piece about giving more practical gifts this Christmas time. So many have forgotten about the religious aspect of the season and see it just as a time of senseless spending. I feel so badly for the parent who's child cried themselves to sleep after not getting the toy they wanted, but part of the blame goes to the parent, who raised that child to be so selfish anyways as to not be for the gifts that they WERE given.
So, what will you be giving your children this holiday season?
- by Elizabeth, 11-19-2009, 10:36 PM
| | 3. | An Apple sounds good to me....:%29
Hank
- by Hank Wilfong, 11-19-2009, 3:18 PM
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