When we have too much work to do, too many problems to solve, too many places to visit during vacations we are overwhelmed. Too many choices at the buffet or salad bar? Overwhelming. Too many books to read? Overwhelming. And. So. On. Yet, even those of us who have felt overwhelmed and not liked it at the time, overwhelm our children with too many presents at Christmas (or birthdays).

We held back at Christmas and birthdays. Yes, a few times he got “too much” at Christmas, but never to the extent of the parents around us or those I worked with. We always felt the average parent (that we knew or worked with) went overboard year after year.

But whether we (the collective, everyone, we) like to give our children more or less than others, why not spread it out over the year? Why give it all at Christmas and birthdays? Why make children, nieces, nephews, etc., wait until then and slam them with too many things to enjoy at one time. Why not just buy an occasional surprise gift or take them shopping? Why not make a new family tradition of at least one more special day, tailored to your family, to even out the year? Half of you are going to spend a year or two paying off Christmas anyway… think of it as less finance charges… or better yet, think of it as an extra opportunity to show your child, “Hey, I was thinking about you today!” – and let Christmas and/or birthdays be less overwhelming.