So it's 2:38 am on Saturday morning. I have been now putting things away, reorganizing, cleaning up the basement and getting Salvation Army items together for upwards of five and a half hours. I'm tired. And annoyed. And REALLY really upset about having to spend my night this way, away from Ellie, away from Doug.
So I've decided to take it out on my loved ones.
As follows. Thank you for exercising moderation this year with Ellie's birthday. I TRULY see that everyone really held back (or tried to) and gave modest, thoughtful and appropriate gifts. Seriously. And there's no but. I am actually thrilled with the thoughtfulness behind her presents and the practical nature of almost every one of them. So THANK YOU!
Anywho, I've decided to ALSO let you know, as I create my salvation army pile, that 4 OTHER birthday gifts made it into the pile. Not necessarily folks on this email distribution*.
Yep. Because 1 was too large for our home (storage issue), 1 was decorative only (no function, see storage issue) 1 was completely unsafe for a child f her age (thus why store until she is older as we have a storage issue) and the last, impractical for her age (see storage issue) I thought about contacting the gift giver and getting a return receipt. I thought about the fact that someone worked hard to make the money to buy her something and I was essentially throwing it away, I thought about not sending this email because - as my father and Doug both say - why ruin it for someone else. I know I need to be gracious and spare other peoples feelings and NOT make them feel bad. But honestly, I realize that if someone does not have enough respect to honor my lifestyle choice or how I need to run my home, then I no longer have to respect their feelings or rights as it relates to the self same issue. My house is SMALL. And everytime one thing comes in, something goes out. And in order for that to happen, I need to recycle the packaging (paper, plastic, cardboard) and them I need to package up whatever else is getting donated, then I need to drive hither and yon to donate (clothes go one place, children's items to another, housewares to a third).
I have a one year old. I'm TIRED of running around doing errands b/c I believe in being an environmentalist who chooses NOT to be a consumer and people keep foisting ship off on me in the name of love for Ellie. If you REALLY love Ellie, then let her enjoy her Mommy. And let Mommy enjoy a holiday without having to continue to reiterate a fairly simple point about excess.
So here's my new deal. For those of you who know EXACTLY who you are here's the deal.
Next time you hand me more then one gift for Ellie. Or you hand me something and AS you hand it to me, say "I know you told me not to..." or "I know you aren't going to like this but..." just know that YOUR gift is going to Salvation Army.
And I will NOT feel guilty.
And you will NOT get a thank you.
Or even a pretense of one.
Consider yourself warned.
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