Dear Planet Earth at christmas (Warning: might bring your festive spirit down)

[Lenny]

Dear Planet Earth (the same Earth my children will inherit),

I'm really sorry that in a few weeks time you will be dealing with hundreds and thousands of ridiculous plastic toys that are thrown away in the rubbish - cheap junk that someone bought just to satisfy some social construct. Thousands of rubbish presents that adults gave each other in 'Secret Santa/Kris Kringle' at work. And all the associated packaging.

I'm not perfect. But I am proud of the choices I have made this christmas. Some beautiful clothing gifts made by other SAHMs. Food gifts, homemade kids costumes.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas. Try to help the planet out a little bit though - don't just buy for the sake of it. It doesn't show the other person that you love them the most - it shows the rest of us that you don't care about the world we live in.

Show some respect and some restraint. And then be proud.

[chody47]

I think this is a good point (as I'm sitting looking at some useless items I was given last year...)

[Astrid]

Brilliant points - I am completely over buying for the sake of buying. Trying to do better this year with buying what is more of a need, than a frivolous want.

[Phteven]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

Relevant I think.

I've been trying to declutter my children's toys. I feel kind of sorry for them - their extended family give them so much junk they're drowning in it.

[luna moth]

I'm with you

[sangie]

Agree 10,000%. If only I could get the IL's to agree

[Lenny]

wysiwyg - glad i wasn't the only one who got an orange. I wish it was a terry chocolate one but alas, it was the real off the tree variety! i think my kids would be bemused! They have a stocking each this year in which santa will place his one gift + one book to them in. It needs no stuffing thank you very much!

[CharlieBrownGirl]

Deleted post (What's the point in trying?)

Because you can educate and change the mind set of people who are unaware of sustainable development, that meets the needs of the current generation without comprising those of future generations.

I'm conscience of my impact on the environment so that I can give my future children the same quality of living that I've been fortunate to enjoy.

[wysiwyg]

cheap junk that someone bought just to satisfy some social construct. Thousands of rubbish presents that adults gave each other in 'Secret Santa/Kris Kringle' at work. And all the associated packaging.

Agree entirely - I have managed persuade MG not to have Kris Kringle this year - none of the kids need anymore toys (several people had already bought stuff showing how ingrained the idea is - they will just go to others now). I particularly like your phrase "to satisfy some social construct" and think this applies at so many occasions, I often read and hear about people hating lists of all kinds or requests for money not gifts because it "takes away their joy of buying" but getting something you want or money to buy something wanted is really the best thing environmentally. I can never understand why people can not respect my wishes and give me the gift of "nothing".

Re-gifting is fine but it doesn't stop the things being produced in the first place using up valuable resources. I particularly hate when you see whole racks devoted to "Stocking Fillers" - what happened to stuffing a stocking with an orange - and it seems that shops are in on the whole Secret Santa thing too with areas for Secret Santa presents.

I do think sometimes plastic is given a hard time - in some forms plastic presents are fantastic - they last multiple life-times (duplo my kids have was mine when I was a child - and anyone who bins lego or duplo should be fined in my opinion) - playmobil again we have from when I was a child. In addition to the focus on cheap plastic items, the focus really should be on the amount of items regardless of whether they are plastic, wooden or expensive.

The kids get presents from in-laws (clothing - is all I allow them to send because I don't buy any myself for them) & mum and dad will send present back with my brother after Christmas - stuff from Father Christmas has come from Salvos and from us I am converting some furniture into a dolls house and a play kitchen - that way when they are too old for it it can go back to being furniture. All the furniture for dolls house I am making from stuff I have recycled or got from Resource Rescue. I have never been so excited about a present for them before - hours and hours and hours of pleasure it is giving me making the stuff. All our decorations this year are from Resource Rescue or saved cards and again it really makes me feel festive making them. It is also important I think that little ones see the making of decorations and presents - then grow up thinking that is how you get decorations and making or opshopping presents is what you do rather than go to a shop and buy them - is about breaking those ingrained social constructs for the next generation.

We don't do presents really for each other and all other family in the UK (my side gave up doing presents long ago even when we were in the UK, and DH's are getting there) - we wrap up stuff we already have so can open something with the kids on Christmas day. Money we get given for children use for Zoo membership, Museum membership etc. and DD really wants to go on a horse and carriage round city so will probably do that as a gift too from someone. I think experiences are great as presents as long as people don't then say have to get them something little to open on the day too.

[veus]

Aha!! Thanks for the Orange thing. I always wondered what is the deal with stocking fillers. I vetoed gifts for DD. I don't like plastic stuff and have made it quite obvious to all who are potentially buying present for DD. I just tell them
To give money if they feel they need to. Then I go give it to charity one way or another.

[lilima]

The stocking fillers for my kids are a toothbrush and toothpaste, underwear, a small box of cereal for their breakfast, and a small long life milk. Kids love it, as they get to eat their special breakfast! So no plastic stocking fillers here.

I dread to think about what I will get for the work KK. I have bought a 'green' keep cup for the person I got. He enjoys good coffee, so I think he will like it.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

I'm sorry, my kids would firstly think its a joke then be upset if I put toothpaste and breakfast cereal in their stockings!! LOL!!

[Traveller]

in our house stocking fillers are fruit, new socks, lollies and a hot wheels car. I was thinking a new toothbrush this year too, it's so ideally shaped for a stocking

[Nai]

What great stocking filler ideas! I have swimming goggles, gingerbread and candy canes to put in my kids ones so maybe some toothbrushes and special breakfast would be good too!

[Phteven]

We used to get our school supplies for the next year.
I love the cereal idea. More sleep in for you too! Win.

I think my boys are happy to get anything since they know it's only something we do out of respect for my family and their traditions.

[Jellyfish]

Woah the tea towel idea is brilliant! Wish somebody would wrap our presents in tea towels, we only have two and it never seems enough when all little people want to help haha.