Saturday was the big day! My boys were so excited and could hardly fall asleep on Christmas Eve with anticipation.
We all woke up and raced down the stairs to see what Santa had brought. They were in awe of the loads of toys they found. Helicopters, airplanes, sleeping bags, video games, Nerf guns, Art supplies and more. They had hit it big time this year!
All day Saturday they played with their new toys while munching on chocolate found in their stocking.
Sunday morning we started our day as usual. Boys were in the living room, under the tree playing, fighting, crying, laughing, etc with their new toys.
Then Mommy snapped.
I started noticing broken pieces of toys around the house. I then thought back over the last 48 hours and I remembered all of the other toys that had been broken. A gun here, an action figure there, nerf darts (many), remote control car antenae. Then I realized that in their boredom (I still cannot imagine how they could be bored) they didn't really care about these toys at ALL! These 2 little boys had no respect for their toys. They did not appreciate them nor did they value them. It wasn't just that day or that week. It was every day.
So I grabbed a few trash bags and started filling them up. Everything. Gifts from grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, and, yes, even Santa! Nothing was left! I shoved everything last thing in the closet and proceeded to scream at and lecture them for the next 20 minutes! Mommy was on a rampage.
Later that day we left to run errands. We stopped at McDonalds for a Happy Meal. I took the toys out of the box and made both boys return the toys to the cashier, explaining that the toys deserved to be with children who will appreciate them.
It has been two days since my meltdown. They still have nothing to play with. Just a few books and eachother. They have been begging for their toys back (which means I think my evil plan is working). If they can get along, then they can start earning them back tomorrow.
I know some of you may think I am horrible for doing this to a 4 and 5 year old. But sometimes kids just have too much and they stop appreciating what they are given. I hope this sticks with them and they tell this story to their own kids ("Our mother took all of our Santa away") as incentive for their own children. I blame myself (and my husband) for buying them things more than I should.
If you have other ideas on how to let me children appreciate their possessions, I am open for suggestions!
**UPDATE: On Wednesday, December 29th they were able to get all of their toys back but not before making them beg for 3 days ;)
I know this is a little late.... but what my wife and I do is we let them open one toy a week from their birthday and Christmas gifts..... they tend to appreciate them more...and every Christmas we donate toys that they don't want or use anymore.
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