Christmas just for the kids ..

[MistressMonster]

We draw names between me, Dh, MIL, FIL, BIL, SIL and my mother.. DH and I only do stockings for each other.

We did that as the adults on hubby's side of the family. Everyone drew a name. Somehow we ended up with each other. For years we'd not buy each other gifts. We always bought gifts for other family, and the kids.

[Anonymous 4]

We didn't really do Christmas with the rest of the family. Dh has & will always go all out for me on Christmas, it's the one time of year that he loves to "get" me. 1 yr, he drove around with a huge computer desk ( in its box) for a whole month ,trying to hide it from me. Lol

I have & will always make sure dh & our children, who are adults ,have a great Christmas.

[mcginnisc]

Yeah...we do it with his side and then add my mom since we are all together. Our rule is that you can't draw your spouse. If someone draws their spouse, we start over. We've had to do that many times over the years. LOL

We draw names between me, Dh, MIL, FIL, BIL, SIL and my mother.. DH and I only do stockings for each other.

We did that as the adults on hubby's side of the family. Everyone drew a name. Somehow we ended up with each other. For years we'd not buy each other gifts. We always bought gifts for other family, and the kids.

[Danesmommy1]

We have a kids only rule for extended family, but DH and I both get gifts from one another and DS.

Our entire family has a kids only rule for gifts and it makes things SO much less stressful.

[Inmybizz]

No, Christmas is for everyone in our house(including my poodle).. if we guest spending the holiday with us I also buy something for them to open on Christmas Day.

**the kids usually get the most**

[Pjmm]

My brother and I usually just buy for each other's kids. And my ex's family used to just buy for the kids.

[Deleted User 1039]

My side of the family does Secret Santa for anyone over 18 (my parents, two sisters, and older sisters family).

My parents and sister & Bil exchange gifts, but DH and I don’t. So we just buy gifts for our kids, my younger nephew and niece, and the two people we have for SS.

[famousglm714]

No, we buy for everyone at every gathering. Usually just gift cards for adults. We have at least 5 different Christmas gatherings that I can think of at the moment. Yikes. It’s all family though.

[Deleted User 1039]

We have a kids only rule for extended family, but DH and I both get gifts from one another and DS.

Our entire family has a kids only rule for gifts and it makes things SO much less stressful.

Totally agree. We started the Secret Santa thing the year we all took a cruise together and wanted to control cost and it was remarkable how much more we all enjoyed both shopping and receiving, so we’ve done it ever since (5 years I think)! It’s not quite as great as kids only, but everyone share lists and we set a reasonable price limit, so you are getting people something you know they’ll like and they are getting something they actually want. And I wouldn’t get any gifts if we didn’t do it, so I’m not in a hurry to do away with it;)

[Traci_Momof2]

We did on DHs side of the family. Once all the kids came along it just got to be too much to buy for his brothers and SILs and all the kids and his parents. So we switched to buying for just the kids and his parents because his parents still wanted to buy for all of us.

But our oldest niece is 20 years old and we still buy for her even though she's not a "kid" anymore. We will continue to buy for her and her spouse if she marries until she has kids if she has them. Then we will just buy for her kids as Great-Aunt and Great-Uncle. So really it's about the youngest generation in each line and buying for them. Not so much about kids v adults.