If you were asked to think back to your childhood and name one of the best gifts you ever received what would it be?
I like to ask myself this question as I am guilty of worrying too much about the gifts I give my children. I buy them presents that I think they will love, wrap them and hide them away. I feel good, I can’t wait to see their faces and then I stress myself out that I haven’t got them enough. Every year without fail I then go over the top splurge buying more gifts just so they have more to unwrap.
Yet if I asked them what they got last year they struggle to recall apart from the mini iPads that have barely left their hands. If I go back another year I will probably get blank faces where they really don’t remember. Therefore I know my unfounded worries of not giving them enough are not valid. That it is about me – who gets caught up in the retailers well designed marketing campaigns and not what the children want.
I have been seeing other people posting on facebook that they want to get back to basics with presents and that really want to just get a few well thought out gifts. I feel the same and I also like giving the children experiences now that they are older.
Going back to my own childhood my gift that I remember the most was my Sindy house. The house was amazing, as tall as me, with each room decorated with wallpaper and carpet that resembled our family home. Other family members bought me the room sets to furnish my almighty home. I remember my uncle getting me the kitchen set complete with rotary washing line and I knew all my Christmas’s had come at once. I played for hours with that Sindy house and I never once noticed that it was different to my friends plastis houses. Mine was sturdy, well built and had expert finishing touches. It was only much later that I realised it resembled our family home because it had been lovingly made by my dad. As a craftsman he had spent many an hour in the garage putting my house together. It was not the first time either as dad had made me a rocking cradle for my dolls previously. The Sindy house house has long since vanished which is such a shame as the very same thing is on Erin’s wish list. Oh how wonderful it be to be able to keep going through the family. The dolls cradle still does exist though and has various adjustments made to it over the years as Chloe wanted it with drapes when she was younger so dad fixed it up.
Although Sindy seems to have retired her contemporary Barbie is still at the top of many Christmas lists including Erin’s. Her wish is for a Barbie saddle and ride and I will be making sure that I keep the horse and barbie just in case my future grandchildren want to see what their mummy played with!
Disclosure: I have been gifted Barbie side and ride for this post – but shhh don’t tell Erin!
9 Responses
Ah I feel the same about a Sylvanian Families house that my grandad made me for Christmas. I LOVED it and all the furniture and never realised until I was older that he had made it himself. I wish I still had it now :-/
Your secret about Erin’s toy is safe with me 🙂
The presents I remember the most was one year my parents couldn’t afford to get us presents so my mum made us jumpers and dresses, shorts for my brother. These gifts were so unique we worn them daily, best presents ever.
I seem to remember the ones I didnt get more lol – Mr Frosty, The Cabbage Patch doll which had a dummy x
I remember Sindy, are companies still manufacturing her or not? It is amazing I think Barbie celebrated her 50th birthday or something like that recently?
i have to say a baby doll and pram.. my god i loved it x
I am consciously trying to cut down this year, as Monkey always gets loads from friends and we just don’t have the space. Plus he’s got things that I’m not sure he even plays with! Love the sound of your Sindy house, your dad must have felt great when you opened it xx
That’s so funny, I’d been thinking back to Christmas presents and my Sunday house is the one I really remember. Especially because it was so big to unwrap.
Probably my bike – I was over the moon with it! My parent’s would do a treasure hunt for my ‘big present’ every year when I got older so those are memories that I will always remember, keeping the excitement of Christmas alive even into my teens 🙂 x
Great post! I remember so many gifts but the ones I remember opening the most on Christmas day were Sindy Salon and my glitter hair barbie! I loved them so much.