Post by mainelyfoolish on Apr 20, 2014 10:14:48 GMT -5
I don't do big baskets, but a lot of my friends do, especially ones whose kids have fall/winter birthdays. It's mostly stuff they were going to buy for their kids anyway -- beach towels, sunglasses, water bottles, bike helmets, outdoor summer toys -- so they give it as an Easter present.
This year our bunny gave candy, a book, and a small craft project. If I buy my kids beach towels or bike helmets, I just give them to the kids at the time they need them.
Live and let live. If people want to buy their kids shit and have the means to do so, who the fuck cares?
I can understand a little judging. It can be hard when you have a kid who goes to school the next day to find out her friends got tons of gifts and she only got a basket of candy.
I don't do big baskets, but a lot of my friends do, especially ones whose kids have fall/winter birthdays. It's mostly stuff they were going to buy for their kids anyway -- beach towels, sunglasses, water bottles, bike helmets, outdoor summer toys -- so they give it as an Easter present.
This year our bunny gave candy, a book, and a small craft project. If I buy my kids beach towels or bike helmets, I just give them to the kids at the time they need them.
Pretty much this. DS has a November birthday. It sucks to get outdoor toys in November so he gets all that stuff now.
Live and let live. If people want to buy their kids shit and have the means to do so, who the fuck cares?
For me, it's not about caring what any one family does, but more about the phenomenon in general. Rather than judging, I feel this ache in my heart about what I take from this about our society and where it is headed. Like we have an addiction to things and the more and more things we get, the more it takes to fill this need. And the idea that people have that we have to keep up with others. I think this is combined with showing off on FB, because years ago, I didn't know what other people were doing unless I had the personal contact with them. So we are getting more exposure to materialistic stuff and less personal contact. I worry that it's not a healthy path and that it will spill over to other things in our lives.
This is where I am at. Not really judging just shocked that some people do that much. Growing up it was just a few little things and I do the same. I didn't realize some people have multiple baskets, huge toys, etc.
Gifts are my love language. I try to keep it to "necessary" stuff, but it's fun for me and it's fun for my kids. I had a mom who was not into such things I go all out for my kids.
Also, not to get all Fox News, but the secularization of Easter is starting to feel a little weird.
It's normal: see Christmas, Ramadan, the haj ... heck, I have atheist/non-practicing friends who sort of try to observe Lent. But that doesn't mean it doesn't feel weird.
Live and let live. If people want to buy their kids shit and have the means to do so, who the fuck cares?
For me, it's not about caring what any one family does, but more about the phenomenon in general. Rather than judging, I feel this ache in my heart about what I take from this about our society and where it is headed. Like we have an addiction to things and the more and more things we get, the more it takes to fill this need. And the idea that people have that we have to keep up with others. I think this is combined with showing off on FB, because years ago, I didn't know what other people were doing unless I had the personal contact with them. So we are getting more exposure to materialistic stuff and less personal contact. I worry that it's not a healthy path and that it will spill over to other things in our lives.
See, this bugs me. I think it's unfair to equate buying stuff with a lack of personal contact.
This morning, we woke up and C opened his gigantic Easter basket. Then we put the toys away, went to church, and had a big family meal together. His grandma is now reading him the story of Easter from the children's Bible (that was in his basket), and he just got done drawing pictures with his grandpa (with markers that were in his basket).
Giving my child things is not a substitute for quality time and our faith.
Also, not to get all Fox News, but the secularization of Easter is starting to feel a little weird.
It's normal: see Christmas, Ramadan, the haj ... heck, I have atheist/non-practicing friends who sort of try to observe Lent. But that doesn't mean it doesn't feel weird.
I bet Jesus is pumped that the miracle of the resurrection takes a back seat to sidewalk chalk.
Also, not to get all Fox News, but the secularization of Easter is starting to feel a little weird.
It's normal: see Christmas, Ramadan, the haj ... heck, I have atheist/non-practicing friends who sort of try to observe Lent. But that doesn't mean it doesn't feel weird.
I bet Jesus is pumped that the miracle of the resurrection takes a back seat to sidewalk chalk.
We aren't religious, but I loved Easter growing up. Our baskets were small and just contained candy and a few trinkets (I remember peel-off nail polish one year). E's was also modest; last year we didn't do a basket at all. I did get him sidewalk chalk. Full circle?
Post by water*drop on Apr 20, 2014 12:05:07 GMT -5
I got a bike for Easter twice growing up. I have a winter birthday. Easter was when we got all of our outside stuff, so it was always big, present-wise, for us. DD has a spring birthday, so we actually do a pretty small basket, though it was overflowing this year because her playdoh took up a lot of space. It's just the way we do things. We don't give her toys at random times; she gets them at holidays. It's always been that way for me, but before social media, I guess nobody would have known that...so how much of it is society changing, and how much of it is just that social media makes it easier to see what other people do? I don't disagree that we're becoming more materialistic as a society; I just don't know whether I agree that this is an example of that.
Post by shellbear09 on Apr 20, 2014 12:17:55 GMT -5
I get what you are saying. I don't really care what others do but it's too much for me. I try not to be excessive but our family has no boundaries so she gets tons anyway.
And FTR, secularization of Easter and huge baskets is not new.
I grew up in a non-religious household and honestly didn't know there was a religious meaning to the holiday until I was probably 12 or 13. It was all chocolate bunnies and egg hunts to me. This was in the 80s.
You think how someone chooses to celebrate an occasion and share such with family/friends on FB, gross? Sounds like you may need a FB break.
I like the celebration pictures. I dislike the pictures of gifts. To me, those are two entirely different things.
A staged photo of strategically arranged gifts =/= a family/friends/happy group of people celebrating. TO ME.
Gifts to others often = spent time thinking about something one might enjoy and time selecting such, or something we may enjoy doing together. It's gross to think others judge how some express their love.
See, this bugs me. I think it's unfair to equate buying stuff with a lack of personal contact.
This morning, we woke up and C opened his gigantic Easter basket. Then we put the toys away, went to church, and had a big family meal together. His grandma is now reading him the story of Easter from the children's Bible (that was in his basket), and he just got done drawing pictures with his grandpa (with markers that were in his basket).
Giving my child things is not a substitute for quality time and our faith.
I agree with Brie. This morning DS woke up and opened his Easter basket. We took the sticker book from his basket to church, where he played quietly and enjoyed communion (dips the bread and everything). We're having dinner with my parents, where grandma will read the book and do the puzzle from his basket. There's nothing wrong with a celebration of family and faith including a few toys for children.
Like swizz suggested, then maybe you just need to quit Facebook. AWing on some level is basically one of the primary purposes of FB.
lol swizz also said fb bragging is real and annoying.
I don't care what you buy your kid. Ever. Or what your ILs buy your kid. But I can't help but wonder if you're doing it for your kid or for some other reason when you share the 5ft x 5ft Easter basket/Christmas display/birthday gift table/whatever with strategically placed brand name whatever with your 800 closest FB "friends."
Fb judging is just as much a real phenomena as fb awing.
I never said it wasn't, but really, if you are this bothered by the AWing and this into the judging, then it didn't sound like FB is for you.
Also, not to get all Fox News, but the secularization of Easter is starting to feel a little weird.
It's normal: see Christmas, Ramadan, the haj ... heck, I have atheist/non-practicing friends who sort of try to observe Lent. But that doesn't mean it doesn't feel weird.
I'm here. My MIL is a militant atheist. Counts the number of times the word "god" is said in a wedding ceremony. Loooooooves sending Christmas/ Easter gifts. Because it's about the gifts. I find it really off, but hey, chocolate...
I think what irks me about these posts is that they come from such an obvious "patting myself on the back" place. YES, consumerism is a huge, huge problem. HUGE. Environmentally, socially, economically. There are a million and one reasons not to buy tons of crap from China, not to waste, not to burn through resources chasing that buyer's high. I get all that.
But for some reason the outrage only seems to come out on holidays. We would be making a bigger impact if we were concerned about this shit day in and day out. Are we being socially responsible in our purchases? Are we reusing what we can before buying new stuff? How much are we catering to what we're told we "need" vs. what we really do?
But come on. This is not a problem that is solved by making Easter baskets smaller. So stop being so smug and self righteous about it unless you're truly living a day in, day out example of responsible consumerism.
On the other hand, should we really be surprised when people use the Internet to tell people to stay off their lawn? It is the Internet, after all ...
I think what irks me about these posts is that they come from such an obvious "patting myself on the back" place. YES, consumerism is a huge, huge problem. HUGE. Environmentally, socially, economically. There are a million and one reasons not to buy tons of crap from China, not to waste, not to burn through resources chasing that buyer's high. I get all that.
But for some reason the outrage only seems to come out on holidays. We would be making a bigger impact if we were concerned about this shit day in and day out. Are we being socially responsible in our purchases? Are we reusing what we can before buying new stuff? How much are we catering to what we're told we "need" vs. what we really do?
But come on. This is not a problem that is solved by making Easter baskets smaller. So stop being so smug and self righteous about it unless you're truly living a day in, day out example of responsible consumerism.
Very well said!
I'm very un-materialistic, like could live out if 2 suit cases for the rest of my life. But I think gifts throughout the year for special occasions are nothing to be smug and judgy about and I appreciate them. My mom gave me an Easter bag this morning Just because someone gets/gives gifts a few times per year doesn't mean they're 100% materialistic and all about consumerism.
I don't really think it's a new phenomenon. It's just now our peers actually have young kids to buy for and Facebook is around.
Oy I feel like I started drama. I wasn't really judging the ppl I saw on my fb but just like a shocked what's going on. It was definately fb awing, huge baskets without kids, just showing off. But then again I wouldn't side eye if someone aw ed their new car, so idk.
Materialism bothers me more on Christmas and Easter because I'm trying to navigate the muddy waters where consumerism's heights meet my religion's high holidays. It's hard. It's weird. And then the photos of mountains and mountains of gifts just drive home the part that at the end of the day, the Bunny and Santa are far more fun than church.
I do try to restrict my buying of useless shit year round. It's just a few times a year when EVERYWHERE devolves into showing off the biggest pile of love-via-plastic that I get the bah humbugs.
Oy I feel like I started drama. I wasn't really judging the ppl I saw on my fb but just like a shocked what's going on. It was definately fb awing, huge baskets without kids, just showing off. But then again I wouldn't side eye if someone aw ed their new car, so idk.
Also, not to get all Fox News, but the secularization of Easter is starting to feel a little weird.
It's normal: see Christmas, Ramadan, the haj ... heck, I have atheist/non-practicing friends who sort of try to observe Lent. But that doesn't mean it doesn't feel weird.
Eh, I can't get upset considering the church overlayed their religious holiday over a pagan one. I say live and let live, celebrate the holidays and seasons however you like.
Also, not to get all Fox News, but the secularization of Easter is starting to feel a little weird.
It's normal: see Christmas, Ramadan, the haj ... heck, I have atheist/non-practicing friends who sort of try to observe Lent. But that doesn't mean it doesn't feel weird.
As a Christian, Easter is by far more important to me than Christmas. I purposefully did not do baskets for my kids because I want to put my time and attention into teaching about the resurrection and not set up the expectation that Easter is a time when you get gifts. I did do baskets when they were little but now that they are older I am doing things differently. I do not know if they will come home from school and talk about not getting anything for Easter. If they do I will tell them different families celebrate differently and explain why we celebrate like we do.
Materialism bothers me more on Christmas and Easter because I'm trying to navigate the muddy waters where consumerism's heights meet my religions high holidays. It's hard. It's weird. And then the photos of mountains and mountains of gifts just drive home the part that at the end of the day, the Bunny and Santa are far more fun than church.
I do try to restrict my buying of useless shit year round. It's just a few times a year when EVERYWHERE devolves into showing off the biggest pile of love-via-plastic that I get the bah humbugs.
I agree, minus the caring about Jesus part (no offense at all, just that doesn't play into my feelings). I try not to buy too much throughout the year. We have recently accumulated some outdoor big plastic toys, but most were used. I don't pay close attention to what others give their kids, but I do keep a close eye on myself and am very conscious of avoiding "spoiling" my kid.
I bought my kid books, play dough and a little craft. This was so she would have something to do today and I wouldn't have to entertain her. Stickers from the dollar store keep me sane She has played with her 9 chocolate eggs for 3 hours. Carrying them around in her basket. Lining them up, sorting them by colour. Well worth it.
I totally agree. DS played with his Easter 'Play Pack grab & go' for the whole church service. I got to sing all my favorite Easter hymns in peace, and everyone commented on how well behaved he was. Target dollar spot, holla!
Well worth it.
FWIW catbus, he got the duck one on the bottom left, not the rabbits