This morning I realized there were only 5 shopping days left until Christmas! Not sure how it sneaks up, but every  year seems to be the same routine. Maybe I just need to give in and change my middle name to Procrastinate.

Regardless, I got a free afternoon out! Since those rarely happen, I was excited. That is until I started shopping.

Based on my list, I still needed to finish Cameron (7) and Sienna (6 months). I had no idea what I was looking for. I found myself wandering up and down the aisles of Target like a zombie. Hoping for an epiphany.

You know it’s bad when you can’t find things you don’t need at Target!

Then I got angry! Why am I doing this?! First of all, it’s not fun. More importantly, I feel like I’m just out here buying to buy. That’s sheer insanity!

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the excessiveness of the holiday season. Every parent will tell you their kids are spoiled. I know mine are! There seriously isn’t much they need. Even the list of things they want isn’t that long. Yet, I’m here right now trying to find more to buy.

Before you start thinking I’m some materialistic lunatic, let me explain how we got here. You see, my kids are very fortunate in that there are a lot of people that buy for them. My Mom. My Dad and his wife. My sister. My husband’s parents. Two of my Grandmothers. Then of course my Husband and I. And most important…Santa!

Everyone wants ideas! It seems every year I’m struggling to come up with ideas to give everyone. By the time I’m done handing them out, I have nothing left.

Our Christmas wish lists:

1. Cameron (7) – Books and video games.
2. Melia (4) – Jasmine outfit & crown, ballet shoes.
3. Sienna (6 months) – She needs some pajamas. Maybe a few clothes.

If it was just us and Santa providing Christmas, it would be perfect! I could easily throw in some clothes for the big kids since they are outgrowing some of their current stuff. Then add a couple of toys for the baby. Everyone would be happy.

But it’s not! So now I’m angry.

Angry at myself for standing in Target looking for more to buy. Angry at society for sending the message that we need to spend so much. Angry that it’s Christmas, and I’m stressed out. But mostly angry that it’s gotten to the point it has and we’ve never put our foot down.

Today I made a decision. I was done shopping. Enough is enough!

This year I will be sure my kids have a great Christmas. More importantly, I will start setting expectations for next year. No more excess! Everyone needs to scale back their budgets.

I want to be the primary provider for my kid’s Christmas. I want to be the one giving them their most desired wishes (OK or Santa). I’m tired of Santa competing with big gifts from everywhere else. Why should I be the one struggling to have enough? That means figuring out how to get everyone else to scale back and limit themselves to just a couple of small gifts. But how do I enforce it to create the holiday we want for our kids?!

Enough is enough!