I simply loved this quote because I despise greedy children. Actually I despise children and have refused to acknowledge yet to my grandchildren that I am ready to be a grandfather. That day will come when they are adults and act like it. As for you, best wishes to you as you count down the weeks and days.

I despise greedy children too. In fact, if my children or other children in my sphere, approach me (or my husband) with "I want" statements, they aren't acknowledged. My father use to say "gimme died" instead of "gimmes don't get."

Yearly at the holiday season, our family picks age corresponding tags from giving trees so as to instill in our children giving instead of getting. Our Yule mornings aren't filled with paper and bows, but first the sun and hot chocolate and Solstice cookies baked just for the occasion. Yule gifts are handmade (we have taken the Buy Handmade pledge for years now and have stuck to it 100%) by us each and other handcrafting artists (etsy.com is a great source for buying handmade gifts an supporting arts, self sufficiency and less crap going into the dead zones of the oceans.)

Some say our children are going to grow up not knowing how to fit in, but that simply isn't true. They use the computer with supervision. They are understanding of the other types of things that some kids have and sometimes get gifted themselves-and then a month or two later forget about because the intelligence level it takes to use most toys anymore is nill...and then they get taken to the thrift an they move along to their toys that involve thought and growth. My children are growing up to learn to be giving, loving and grateful people instead of self serving, greedy and need-to-have-the-newest-greatest-fastest-shiniest-thing-they -are-trying-to-sell people.

Daughter 2-Monkey, is going to be three in just shy of a month. I asked her not long ago her wish list for birthday gifts. She said, "I just want lots of stuff. Stuff for you, stuff for daddy, stuff for [Chee Chee], stuff for friends, stuff for my monkeys, stuff for my animals who live outside and maybe a cake." She never made mention of anything for herself! She is three! I am so proud and I don't mind patting myself and my husband on the back in our success in raising healthy spirited children. For the record, there is a sock monkey maker on Etsy who I purchase a new monkey for my Monkey on her birthdays and Yule. So she'll get that and a Zodiac mandala and the rest shall be homemade-including the cake.

There is more fun spent doing for each other than waiting to be given anything. If there is anything my children remember from their childhood, my hope is that it is that very idea. Loving and giving to others not expecting anything in return.

here is the link if anyone is interested...

http://buyhandmade.org/

also

Buy Nothing Day is the day after Thanksgiving.
http://www.adbusters.org/abtv/buy_nothing_day_2008.html

instead of going out and consuming because you are told that's the best day (it's not) stay home and make holiday decorations with your family, get started on that holiday baking, learn about another religion's customs of the season, invite friends over for cider and social time (who needs the relatives...you just saw them the day before ;) ) Go for a walk in the chill of late Fall, take a family photo at home, if you have property that contains trees suitable for your holiday tree, go nick one and bring it in to decorate. Go feed people in your area who might not have had family to spend time with (you could even do that instead of going to your relation's house...sometimes that is the better option depending on your extended family ;) ) There are a multitude of things one can do other than spend money the day after Thanksgiving. Love doesn't mean spending a fortune, going into debt (or further into debt) or taking out a second mortgage just to pay for things that are going to be obsolete inside 6 months anyhow.

I'll have more regarding Buy Handmade and Buy Nothing Day as the shopping season nears. Just thought I should post those links now since I mentioned them.