With Christmas coming up, it makes me think about kids just getting loads and loads of Christmas presents, and what a waste that is.

My parents and I watched the two Christmas VHS tapes that we have.  One from 1987 (kids aged:5, 3, and 6 months), and one from 1991 (kids aged 9, 7 and 4).  In the 1987 video, Megan and I both expressed that we wanted a Barbie and the Rockers doll.  I know we had loads of Barbies growing up, but I don’t specifically remember this one.  But for two little just to just want a $10 Barbie, I think that’s pretty good! There are some kids that want ponies, or computers, or cell phones (well, not in 1987).  We just wanted a simple little doll.

And, although we had Barbie’s, we did not grow up with a distorted sense of self-image.  I think my mom’s Ms. Magazine took care of that!

I had once heard that a good thing to do with children with too many toys, is to pack up half of them, and hide them away.  Then, switch the toys every six months or so.  Children have such short term memories, that they get the boxed up toys, and are excited about them all over again; as if they had just received them for the first time.

As with last year, I am trying to do most of my shopping with second hand, or home made items.  My mom is paying me some money to help cover my trip to England, and besides that, I told her I didn’t really want or need anything.