tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post116494648315395148..comments2024-03-12T00:36:02.830-07:00Comments on sweatpantsmom: Losing My Tradition.sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-9805491039424812642008-11-29T14:44:00.000-08:002008-11-29T14:44:00.000-08:00I have been grossed out so much this year with the...I have been grossed out so much this year with the sheer junk trinket items that I inevitably scope through the girls rooms to throw away. Between kiddie party gift bags (don't get me started) and Christmas gifts the sheer amount of trash is disgusting me lately. I say bonfire for the box. <BR/><BR/>Teasin' well sort of ... Gosh but it is dreamy to look at it, but it is here to torture us with forced creativity how to interpret it's use. I like the one thing a week idea too, or NorCal sis! Notes as a kid were equivalent to socks for me and caused instant anger, but it really shouldn't unless it was like, "Take a bath you stink." Now I treasure all the notes from my parents from a child. Maybe one note a week would be cool. I know of a grandma that always did "Everyday Presents" and one year the kids started to whine over stickers or a quarter, until she took it away one year, then "Wow grandma a stick of gum. And I won't complain that it is useless Juicyfruit." Go boring, take it away one year, then they will appreciate it more is also a thought. Sometimes kids need a reminder of what the season is all about and not about "stuff." You are sweet to do this for your girls and you are creating such great memories for them if even if it is laughs about the year you stuck lint or pennies in the holes for being ungrateful. ;-)RosevilleAndRocklinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12533691506426826915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165608620971526682006-12-08T12:10:00.000-08:002006-12-08T12:10:00.000-08:00oooh! the tyranny of the advent calendar! I have n...oooh! the tyranny of the advent calendar! I have no advice whatsoever, except that you should write a book already--fantastic post.<BR/><BR/>(meanwhile, my own son is exacting his own tyranny over the chocolate containing advent calendar we have--complete nightmare).gingajoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01356643079413822527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165605151789424932006-12-08T11:12:00.000-08:002006-12-08T11:12:00.000-08:00Just wanted to say that this post is really timely...Just wanted to say that this post is really timely for me because I was totally thinking of buying one of these at Target and starting a tradition myself, but I never thought about how stressful it could be! On the other hand, I bet your girls will remember the box when they get into adulthood and it will be one of those warm, fuzzy memories from back when they were kids.<BR/><BR/>I wonder, if you could do it over again, would you not have bought it?Cristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07245436504933052526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165534603607487302006-12-07T15:36:00.000-08:002006-12-07T15:36:00.000-08:00I don't know if I'm repeating anyone (because I'm ...I don't know if I'm repeating anyone (because I'm crazy/lazy) but what if you managed to do something that they had to put together? I have no idea how you'd find 25 or 50 little puzzle pieces (although I think you can make your own puzzle online- like you need more to do) but we had an advent calendar and my brother and I fought over who got to open the door each morning b/c it revealed a big picture once all the doors were opened. The suspense was the best part! (Then again, we did live in a really small town!)Teacher ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11672531047040896495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165367509692180102006-12-05T17:11:00.000-08:002006-12-05T17:11:00.000-08:00I'm kind of late to the game, but wanted to put my...I'm kind of late to the game, but wanted to put my 2 cents in. (Beautiful box, by the way - Restoration Hardware? Crate and Barrel?)<BR/><BR/>I vote for alternating between notes and small trinkets and candy. I have to agree that the notes may not be appreciated until their teens. At which time you can start filling the box with condoms and roach clips.<BR/><BR/>-annieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165356472112227682006-12-05T14:07:00.000-08:002006-12-05T14:07:00.000-08:00Puts our Playmobile Advent calendar to shame...Puts our Playmobile Advent calendar to shame...Pendullumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11833881250780345533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165341632872526972006-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:002006-12-05T10:00:00.000-08:00Kids just love traditions and Christmas--does it a...Kids just love traditions and Christmas--does it always have to be about candy and toys? Oh, yea I guess it does. :) I loved your note idea.Scribbithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03178711182424809035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165337865951576242006-12-05T08:57:00.000-08:002006-12-05T08:57:00.000-08:00Well, here we are on the 5th of December and I hav...Well, here we are on the 5th of December and I have yet to get out the decorations...<BR/><BR/>Sigh.<BR/><BR/>I suck.Kristinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15120658117796151128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165288297978045922006-12-04T19:11:00.000-08:002006-12-04T19:11:00.000-08:00Thanks for the reminder! We have one of these litt...Thanks for the reminder! We have one of these little things with 4 unopened days so far..off to go get me some chocolate ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165273957954005892006-12-04T15:12:00.000-08:002006-12-04T15:12:00.000-08:00Just put garbage in it. After a month of getting u...Just put garbage in it. After a month of getting used wrappers and banana peels, they'll really appreciate whatever Santa Claus brings them. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165270622799715032006-12-04T14:17:00.000-08:002006-12-04T14:17:00.000-08:00Oh my gosh, I can so relate!!! We have a hanging ...Oh my gosh, I can so relate!!! We have a hanging advent calendar that you fill with little "things" for each day until Xmas. The first year, my mom filled it with candy canes (little ones, 3 in each day for the 3 kids) and this was fun for the first 2 days until they got sick of peppermint candy canes. Since then, I just put 3 M&M's in each pocket and it seems to be just fine. The kids are most excited about just counting down the days, and a little m&m tides them over!! I feel your pain though!<BR/><BR/>Carriecarriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04038972194323564240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165264049205121532006-12-04T12:27:00.000-08:002006-12-04T12:27:00.000-08:00My kids trade off opening the windows...you take o...My kids trade off opening the windows...you take odd days, I'll take even...<BR/><BR/>Maybe then you would have to buy fewer items? I liked the clues idea..leading to one nice thing at the end...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165262444337563172006-12-04T12:00:00.000-08:002006-12-04T12:00:00.000-08:00I say as long as you're not taking the quarters ou...I say as long as you're not taking the quarters out of THEIR piggy banks, you're good....LOL! ;)Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13754249936855622982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165251087942980982006-12-04T08:51:00.000-08:002006-12-04T08:51:00.000-08:00I love Mom-101's idea. Absolutely brilliant. Not...I love Mom-101's idea. Absolutely brilliant. Nothing like teaching kids the value of false expectations!<BR/><BR/>Also, what about just taking the fortunes out of fortune cookies and sticking them in each drawer? Or you can go to...http://www.customfortunecookies.com. My friends and I use them all the time to prank one another.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165239682433529322006-12-04T05:41:00.000-08:002006-12-04T05:41:00.000-08:00I went to Catholic school and we had an Advent cal...I went to Catholic school and we had an Advent calendar every year and I have to admit I had no idea what they were all about. <BR/><BR/>I love the box you found but it does seem like a lot of work. Perhaps the tradition can be, "Here's the box, isn't it pretty, don't look inside because it's empty." :) Thanks for the post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165209068014152682006-12-03T21:11:00.000-08:002006-12-03T21:11:00.000-08:00i love the idea. i can totally relate to the chor...i love the idea. i can totally relate to the chore part of it....yet i say go for it. fill it w/ quarters, even. no shopping involved. or is quarters way too 1970s...is it dollars now? <BR/><BR/>am going back to the old folks home now.Girlplustwohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07056576921114387218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165200992585511872006-12-03T18:56:00.000-08:002006-12-03T18:56:00.000-08:00I'm thinking it should be like Deal or No Deal, wh...I'm thinking it should be like Deal or No Deal, where a few of them hold something really great, and the rest are clunkers. Like a piece of dryer lint. Or some cat hair.<BR/><BR/>No?Mom101https://www.blogger.com/profile/15468524489744839899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165193736895284852006-12-03T16:55:00.000-08:002006-12-03T16:55:00.000-08:00I say go with a small piece of candy most days. A ...I say go with a small piece of candy most days. A chocolate from a Whitman's sampler, or a gum drop or a swedish fish. Quarters on some days. Maybe two or three nice-ish things like lip balm or barrettes (grabbed at the drugstore) scattered throughout the month. If they don't like it: leave them each a lentil and explain how there are kids starving in other countries! ;->Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165177656789854762006-12-03T12:27:00.000-08:002006-12-03T12:27:00.000-08:00Over here in germany these cardboard calendars fil...Over here in germany these cardboard calendars filled with chocolate are a steady tradition, they start selling them sometime around July I think. Apart from that some places give them out as gifts, last year we had about six of them! And by tradition the chocolate is always really cheap and baaaad.<BR/>I addition to that, my son now wants to have the Lego/Playmobil/Revell version too. And next year the little one will have figured this out too. Sigh.<BR/>All I demand is at least one of these with good chocolate FOR ME!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165177535054396852006-12-03T12:25:00.000-08:002006-12-03T12:25:00.000-08:00How about those little cocktail wieners? I know I ...How about those little cocktail wieners? I know I would be happy to receive those on Christmas morning.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165169976031041102006-12-03T10:19:00.000-08:002006-12-03T10:19:00.000-08:00How about giving them clues or brain teaserst ehy ...How about giving them clues or brain teaserst ehy have to slove in each box so that in the end, they have to piece them together to find something a little more substantial that a 2 inch trinket. Some brain power (of which your girls have tons), a little suspense, and a lot less crap. Kind of like a treasure hunt.<BR/>Just a thought. Of course, that means a little more brain power on your part but I'm sure youcould swing it! Good luck.tracey clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17137351051366653697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165161581489259182006-12-03T07:59:00.000-08:002006-12-03T07:59:00.000-08:00My freaking pollyanna post about Christmas came ba...My freaking pollyanna post about Christmas came back to bite and so I came to sweatpantsmom, goddess of wisdom and wit, and got exactly the spirit boost I needed. I just wish I could think of 50 trinkets to leave as an offering. I like the candy suggestion. A couple of mixed bags and you're done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165160504267480782006-12-03T07:41:00.000-08:002006-12-03T07:41:00.000-08:00Wah ha ha haha. This totally confirms my mom-as-sc...Wah ha ha haha. This totally confirms my mom-as-scrooge position on advent calendars that are anything but paper. On the other hand, clearly The Box has the power of a family tradition, which is totally neat.<BR/><BR/>I'm thinking hershey's kisses for the whole month because hey! who doesn't love a kiss?Francescahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07892273762273248682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165158734601957622006-12-03T07:12:00.001-08:002006-12-03T07:12:00.001-08:00We did something similar and finished hurridly stu...We did something similar and finished hurridly stuffing chocolates into the days after a couple of years. I'm so glad our three are old enough to roll their eyes skywards at the mention of advent calendersAnjihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02562210585479814093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1165158729736938832006-12-03T07:12:00.000-08:002006-12-03T07:12:00.000-08:00I started reading this thinking that I was going t...I started reading this thinking that I was going to run out and buy one of those...and then about midway, for some reason, I scrolled down and saw the "Save me from the box" tag and thought maybe I should finish reading the post before I got my car keys.<BR/><BR/>I think I saw a couple of people mention my first thought: Tylenol? LOL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com