A Christmas thread - One was going to happen eventually....
- Thread starter LordSensei1958
- Start date
@everyone
With Christmas less than 2 weeks away, I'd like to pass along some advice for giving Christmas presents.
To all of you who have children:
If you're stressing about getting the "perfect" gifts, there's one thing to keep in mind. Your present to them might make them happy temporarily, but there's something you can give them that's far more important than any shiny bauble and that is your attention and your time.
I can remember some of the gifts I received as a child, but what I remember most is the time that my parents gave me. As a father of a soon to be 44 year old daughter, their childhood goes by so quickly and they'll be young adults before you know it. Believe me when I say, what matters most to them is your time and attention. That's a gift no one else can give them. Just do some dad things with them, it takes so little effort and your child(ren) will always have those memories of your time together. That will mean more to them than any present you can buy them.
To those of you lucky enough to have a parent or grandparent still alive:
Again, like with children, your time and attention means more than any store bought gift you give them. Don't email, don't text, call them or visit them if possible. They want to see you or hear your voice. No matter how old you are, you're still their child. They love you and want you to be a part of their lives. So many people get caught up in their busy day to day activities, parents get pushed to the side somewhat. It's always, I'll call tomorrow when I'm less busy. But often time those tomorrows turn into days or weeks without communication. Your parents miss you and want to hear from you. Give them a call or visit and say "I love you" and just be there with them. They'll appreciate that more than any store bought item. Remember, they're not going to be there forever. Take your opportunity while you can to be with them. I still regret not spending more time with my parents now that they're gone. I would gladly give up any store bought present I've gotten from them to have been able to spend more time with them.
Ok, sentimental time is over. I hope all of you have a merry fucking Christmas!!
GO PATS!!
With Christmas less than 2 weeks away, I'd like to pass along some advice for giving Christmas presents.
To all of you who have children:
If you're stressing about getting the "perfect" gifts, there's one thing to keep in mind. Your present to them might make them happy temporarily, but there's something you can give them that's far more important than any shiny bauble and that is your attention and your time.
I can remember some of the gifts I received as a child, but what I remember most is the time that my parents gave me. As a father of a soon to be 44 year old daughter, their childhood goes by so quickly and they'll be young adults before you know it. Believe me when I say, what matters most to them is your time and attention. That's a gift no one else can give them. Just do some dad things with them, it takes so little effort and your child(ren) will always have those memories of your time together. That will mean more to them than any present you can buy them.
To those of you lucky enough to have a parent or grandparent still alive:
Again, like with children, your time and attention means more than any store bought gift you give them. Don't email, don't text, call them or visit them if possible. They want to see you or hear your voice. No matter how old you are, you're still their child. They love you and want you to be a part of their lives. So many people get caught up in their busy day to day activities, parents get pushed to the side somewhat. It's always, I'll call tomorrow when I'm less busy. But often time those tomorrows turn into days or weeks without communication. Your parents miss you and want to hear from you. Give them a call or visit and say "I love you" and just be there with them. They'll appreciate that more than any store bought item. Remember, they're not going to be there forever. Take your opportunity while you can to be with them. I still regret not spending more time with my parents now that they're gone. I would gladly give up any store bought present I've gotten from them to have been able to spend more time with them.
Ok, sentimental time is over. I hope all of you have a merry fucking Christmas!!
GO PATS!!
Mazz22
Tom Brady GOAT
This made me spit out my coffee out. LOL Her grabbing the tree on the way down ... classic
HSanders
Cracker bitch
qft...also try very hard to have patience and make accommodations when your loved ones start showing their age. it's very difficult sometimes but worth it.i almost never regret stuff but i wish i'd been better.
Mazz22
Tom Brady GOAT
Family relationships are always hard. I agree. You never regret it when you reach out and accommodate but there are always regrets too.
HSanders
Cracker bitch
Yeah there's definitely dynamics that I don't understand as an only child who did not grow up around any relatives whatsoever. I have trouble understanding some of the drama in these families over issues that I think are so petty but it's just a power and control struggle sometimes. I think or example there's a friend of mine who has 2 nieces who are complete political opposites. the one on the right wants to just stop talking about politics and try to insist that they just leave the topic alone. the 1 on the left constantly wants to argue . It finally got to the point that the one on the right said listen let's just stop talking about it the 1 on the left got all huffy and stopped speaking to her and hung up on her on the phone and wouldn't call her back. my friend was telling me about this and I was like well if she doesn't call me back fuck her she owes me an apology for being an asshole. and my friend is like, "you just don't understand its family blah blah blah" and I'm like,"yeah I don't understand.I treat it like it's any other relationship. if you can't treat me with respect despite our differences then you can just get gone." But I realize that 99% of families do not work like this. in a way I'm kind of glad that I haven't really gotten caught up in it that much other than when I had in laws and some of my own family drama whenever we would get together on some holidays. And I had to tell a couple of my uncles to get bent because of how they attacked me politically or in one case my father.
Mazz22
Tom Brady GOAT
Politics are awful in general. I try to stay away from it in all my relationships but there are just some people who love to fight. I really don't get it either.
I had 2 older sisters and they absolutely hated each other. I can honestly say they were never friendly towards each other even as children. I was the pawn they tried to use to get to each other. It was "He likes me better than you" and that type of shit putting me in the middle of their arguments. Of course I always sided with the one who had the most candy or money to offer me.
When my oldest sister passed away a couple of years ago, they hadn't spoken for probably 20 years. We put the "fun" in "dysfunctional".
The worst thing about having 2 older sisters were the fucking hand me downs.
HSanders
Cracker bitch
I
at the controlling kind of woman who keeps guys balls in the jar then wonder why the guy never acts manly and tries to defend her etc.it's like you can't have a warrior and a eunuch at the same time.
HSanders
Cracker bitch
That's amateur. if they really want to impress me they'll do Takitaki.
