I'm not a Scrooge, but Christmas is TOUGH!

I do not think you are being a scrooge or unreasonable. I totally agree with you. My family actually quit buying for all the kids a few years ago. I have 11 nieces and nephews and that is just too much! My DH's family is really small, but they agree on no gifts. To me, it is more about being with my family than gifts. I usually go overboard on my step-daughter and DH, but this year, it is not going to happen. I have not worked in 3 months and do not see myself doing so anytime soon.

Get your DH to talk to his family if you need to and explain the situation to them. I grew up much the same way you did. And I know that Christmas is about much more than gifts!!

Good luck.

Sherry 

I come from a large family and my parents have seventeen grandchildren ranging in ages from two to nineteen. There is no way that most of us could buy presents for that many kids. That doesn't mean that we don't love them all, it's just impossible. We don't buy for the adults.

We like to all get together for the holiday and since most of the kids are still so young and since we would be getting gifts for our godchildren anyway, we will get gifts for our godchildren as an exchange and then the children who don't have an aunt or uncle as a godparent go into a mini grab bag. This has been working out great for a few years.

This year, it seems a little more difficult for many of us, but there is one brother who is really bad off so we aren't going to force him to do anything, but will make sure that all of the kids do have something.

You're right. Christmas should be more laid back, simple and fun. Not as commercial and strenuous as it has become.