From the look of our checking account, Christmas this year will be very modest. The problem is that our family is still in the gift-giving tradition and all the adults practically EXPECT to receive gifts. And there are so many to buy gifts for: my Mom, my 2 sisters, 8 nieces and nephews, my aunt, my cousin, my cousin’s daughter, my husband, myself, SWHS, MIL, FIL, 3 SILs, 3 BILs.

24 People in our family alone. Then there are friends: 14 total.

I don’t expect gifts. Neither does my husband.

We believe that Christmas gifts are for the children. Santa Claus and the anticipation of his deliver are a way to teach them about hope and the consequences of behavior.

My husband is an Atheist and I am Agnostic, so for us Christmas is more of a celebration of the year and not so much about the birth of Jesus. However, the commercialization of Christmas is burning a whole in our pockets. No wonder people get so stressed out.