Consumable Christmas

Stephanie, a friend of mine dreaded Christmas but not for the usual reasons - getting things ready on time, crowded shops, long queues at the cash. She dreaded the arrival of Christmas morning when her home would be taken over by gigantic presents given to her children by grandparents intent on outdoing the others' extravagance. This issue was compounded by the divorces and re-marriages of both her parents and her husband's parents; not the usual set of two dueling grandparents, but four sets.

One year after a Power Wheels Jeep, Little Tykes Cottage, 5-foot-tall dollhouse and an air hockey table held sway in her family and dining rooms she'd reached the end of her patience with gifts given in a displaced sense of the season. She didn't like that her children were becoming used to large, expensive items and was concerned they would develop a sense of entitlement, perhaps even disappointment if they did not receive things like this. Knowing she would be stepping on some toes and perhaps ruffling more than a few feathers, Stephanie spoke with all four couples. The reactions were varied but in the end a compromise was reached - one large gift the four couples could share the cost of, but anything else had to be "consumable". Consumable in the sense that if it couldn't be eaten or used up within a year it was not to be given.

That first Consumable Christmas brought some snarking that always seems to accompany change. The grandparents seemed unsure what to give. The second Consumable Christmas brought some pleasant surprises - cookies made from old family recipes, outings to ski parks and bowling. As a result the grandchildren, my friend and her husband were spending time differently with the grandparents. Focus shifted from the stress of vying for the most popular gift to better spending their time together. They talked, did things together, connected. I try to keep this in mind each year when I start to put stress on myself.

I admit I don't have a neat, concise ending for this post. Instead of forcing my sleep-deprived self (my one-year-old is feeling the effects of immunization plus he's cutting molars) I will just end with some links to things that make good "Consumable Christmas" gifts.

This month's edition of "Good Housekeeping" has an article on "Homemade Christmas Gifts in a Jar." Especially good is the recipe for Fig & Walnut Cheese Balls. For the person who loves buttery cookies Paula Deen's Five Layer Bars is the ticket. Someone presented my Mom with a jar of Friendship Tea a few years ago and we still make it. Make your own hot chocolate mix or use this as a base recipe to do a flavoured mix.

Non-edible consumables at the top of my list include Lush's Holiday Bubble Bar and the Lush Pud Bath Bomb. If you know a couple in need of a night out, give them some movie passes and, if they have children, offer to baby-sit. In general I'm wary of making a donation to a charity in someone's name, but I have one Aunt who would prefer to see a donation made to the SPCA than to see anything under her tree. If you think your gift recipient would appreciate a donation to their favourite charity or cause, have at!