I'm ready to start Christmas shopping!

[Anonymous 1]

I'm an American living abroad, so while technically I do have family with birthdays between now and December (2 siblings, dad & stepdad, plus all 5 of my nephews and my niece!), they're all in the US so not something I really get to celebrate. I usually go home for about 4 weeks in the summer and get a chance to visit with everyone but we're not risking it this year. A cruise sounds fun! I hope to take one, one of these days, when my kids are older. Hopefully the US will get this virus under control soon and the EU will be able to open back up for Americans.

My DD's birthday is in a couple of weeks so we already have that planned, and then we don't have any birthdays until after Christmas! I usually don't really start in on the Christmas shopping until after my fall vacation but it looks like we may not get to take one this year. Still hoping we can but I'm not confident enough to start planning it just yet. I just need *something* to look forward to!

Nope. I don't even think about Christmas until after my oldest's birthday in November.

My youngest's BFF is 8/2, my BIL is 8/3, my youngest will be 12 on 8/4, my Dh's is 9/4, my niece's is 9/9, and my SIL is 9/13, my FIL is 9/24.. my MIL is 10/20, my oldest is 11/5. I have no clue what we are doing for dd's birthday. Absolutely no clue at all. The only birthdays that are in the first of the year are my mom's, my other SIL, mine, GMIL and brother's. Everybody else is in the fall.
Dh and I are supposed to be in Europe 10/2-10/16 for a river cruise. According to the cruise line it is still happening, but we have to find out if the EU is going to allow US citizens to travel there. We're just in a holding pattern. I'm not getting my hopes up about the trip at all.

[Anonymous 1]

Thank you! It's something to do, anyway. I've done more than enough boredom shopping during the pandemic so I might as well start buying something sensible.

No, but if it brings you a dash of happiness go for it!

[Anonymous 1]

I'm sorry your vacation didn't pan out! I love to travel but I like to be home for Christmas, I guess that's one of the reasons I know I can still look forward to it this year! Have you considered planning a trip for maybe spring? It could still be a Christmas gift.

Enjoy every moment! There was nothing as magical for me about parenting as seeing the kids so shocked and excited for Christmas gifts.

After last year, I sort of thought, you know, we don't need more things, so let's try a vacation over Christmas this year, but that didn't work out so well, lol, I better come up with some different gifts, LOL.

Thank you! I'm sorry Christmas is getting less remarkable for your family. My kids are growing up too but they're still really into Christmas, for now.

Enjoy!

Have a ton of fun!

I used to love Christmas shopping when the kids were younger, I went crazy & it was so much fun.

but this Christmas, they will be 13, 11 & 7. And now their hobbies are gaming & screens — and they have all the devices & tech they need! They are not into clothes or shoes, so they want & need for nothing. So it’s actually a little sad, as Xmas morning will be sort of unremarkable and dull compared to Xmas in the past. I’d cancel family gifts and just adopt another family if it was not for the 7 year old.

[CherryTreez]

I may start because I don't know how the world will be in a few months.

[Anonymous 1]

No point if you don't enjoy it. I enjoy everything, from the shopping, to the decorating, to the gift giving, to the cooking, to the eating! If you generally enjoy Christmas but have no one to shop for, have you considered buying gifts for a charity?

I have almost nobody to shop for this year. I have one niece, but she doesn't even know me, and doesn't really thank me for what I get her so I don't if she likes it or not. She's a teen now and hard to shop for anyway, so it's more of a chore than fun to buy for her. DH and I are getting divorced, and I have no bio kids so.... I guess there's mom, dad, and my brother, but dad and bro are hard to shop for so what's the point?

[Anonymous 1]

That's a good point too! Things seem to be slowly getting back to normal here, but who knows?

I may start because I don't know how the world will be in a few months.

[mcginnisc]

I'm an American living abroad, so while technically I do have family with birthdays between now and December (2 siblings, dad & stepdad, plus all 5 of my nephews and my niece!), they're all in the US so not something I really get to celebrate. I usually go home for about 4 weeks in the summer and get a chance to visit with everyone but we're not risking it this year. A cruise sounds fun! I hope to take one, one of these days, when my kids are older. Hopefully the US will get this virus under control soon and the EU will be able to open back up for Americans.

My DD's birthday is in a couple of weeks so we already have that planned, and then we don't have any birthdays until after Christmas! I usually don't really start in on the Christmas shopping until after my fall vacation but it looks like we may not get to take one this year. Still hoping we can but I'm not confident enough to start planning it just yet. I just need *something* to look forward to!

My youngest's BFF is 8/2, my BIL is 8/3, my youngest will be 12 on 8/4, my Dh's is 9/4, my niece's is 9/9, and my SIL is 9/13, my FIL is 9/24.. my MIL is 10/20, my oldest is 11/5. I have no clue what we are doing for dd's birthday. Absolutely no clue at all. The only birthdays that are in the first of the year are my mom's, my other SIL, mine, GMIL and brother's. Everybody else is in the fall.
Dh and I are supposed to be in Europe 10/2-10/16 for a river cruise. According to the cruise line it is still happening, but we have to find out if the EU is going to allow US citizens to travel there. We're just in a holding pattern. I'm not getting my hopes up about the trip at all.

Cruises are great and our kids love them..this one is a river cruise and they are not invited. LOL It is for our 25th so it is just for the two of us. I have a feeling we will be rescheduling it for next year, but Dh is holding out hope.

[CherryTreez]

That's a good point too! Things seem to be slowly getting back to normal here, but who knows?

I may start because I don't know how the world will be in a few months.

I feel like we will have another full shutdown.

[CotterpinDoozer]

I shop year round, so I’ve picked up several things already. I say do what makes you happy.

[LiveWhatULove]

Not a bad idea, but I am a chicken. I do not want potential illness hanging over our heads when we are away from home & I do not see COVID ending for a long time, so no planning vacations for us. I once caught the flu in Boston, and had to travel home to Kansas. It is an infamous memory, like in the top 15 worst life events, lol.

My DH is slowly finishing our basement, and he should have it pretty well wrapped up by then, so we may just be getting family furniture, snacks, soda and decorating our new hang out. Not exciting but practical!!

I'm sorry your vacation didn't pan out! I love to travel but I like to be home for Christmas, I guess that's one of the reasons I know I can still look forward to it this year! Have you considered planning a trip for maybe spring? It could still be a Christmas gift.

Enjoy every moment! There was nothing as magical for me about parenting as seeing the kids so shocked and excited for Christmas gifts.

After last year, I sort of thought, you know, we don't need more things, so let's try a vacation over Christmas this year, but that didn't work out so well, lol, I better come up with some different gifts, LOL.

Thank you! I'm sorry Christmas is getting less remarkable for your family. My kids are growing up too but they're still really into Christmas, for now.