tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post9039195150282149838..comments2023-07-15T04:12:43.554-05:00Comments on We Band of Mothers: Needy, Greedy, or am I Being Unseemly?Mariannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04509329937576764550noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-8485537805199664522011-12-13T09:01:36.548-06:002011-12-13T09:01:36.548-06:00Anonymous - I dropped off the gifts yesterday and ...Anonymous - I dropped off the gifts yesterday and the lady running it said that they ran out of ornaments this year! Good news for kids at the shelter, but she said they are still accepting Target Gift cards for the moms. School: Barbara Vick. 2554 W. 113th.Mariannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509329937576764550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-79409647793982757182011-12-12T22:50:17.348-06:002011-12-12T22:50:17.348-06:00Where is this "Giving Tree"? Id like to ...Where is this "Giving Tree"? Id like to stop in and grab an ornament!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-60240796801447013622011-12-12T19:50:29.348-06:002011-12-12T19:50:29.348-06:00Kristi - You are so right. I can't believe ho...Kristi - You are so right. I can't believe how generous people are even when they are struggling to make ends meet. It's such a gift to raise kids here, and hopefully my own children will embrace these values. Veronique from Germany has really added a whole new element to the blog. Hopefully, she has friends!<br /><br />Anonymous - They were teenagers, so there was no "Santa" factor in their requests. I grew up in a family with 4 kids, I never had a Swatch Watch or an IOU Sweatshirt, and somehow I still survived. It's good to want for luxuries - it's why I'm trying to talk my husband into a 3rd job (joking, honey).Mariannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509329937576764550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-75436126452235141512011-12-12T16:01:29.532-06:002011-12-12T16:01:29.532-06:00Were the parents of the giving tree kids asking fo...Were the parents of the giving tree kids asking for XBoxes, or the kids themselves? I couldnt blame the kids who still believe in Santa for asking for dream, expensive gifts. Santa s still magic, and I feel kind of sad that the kids are hoping for something they are not going to get. Would I buy X box ? No, but I hope in my heart that the kid will be satified with what they do get..I came from a huge family and asked for things my family could never have afforded, but somehow I was always pleased with what I got. Sigh, todays kids feel more entitled than we did, I m afraid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-86991605716117500242011-12-12T12:25:42.940-06:002011-12-12T12:25:42.940-06:00I am glad that this year they chose the Crisis Cen...I am glad that this year they chose the Crisis Center, I have had they same issues with the gifts requested over the years. I do not understand why our schools always go out of our own neighborhood looking for needy people. There are many people that live right here in our own neighborhood that could use a little extra help this year. There are many enrolled at your preschool that are struggling to buy their kids a coloring book & crayons, let alone over priced electronics! And those same people are standing at the Giving Tree looking for a tag that they can take to help make someone else have a Merry Christmas. We do live in an amazing neighborhood!<br />BTW... congrats on going global!!Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07874046616118249854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-17294161657996535412011-12-12T10:49:35.118-06:002011-12-12T10:49:35.118-06:00Veronique - Wow - Germany! I feel so global. You...Veronique - Wow - Germany! I feel so global. Your point is a good one - do you buy things for other people's kids (regardless of circumstances) that you wouldn't buy your own kids? It's the old Golden Rule - do unto others' (kids) as you would do unto your own (kids). In my case, an Xbox is out of the question.<br /><br />esbboston - I let my husband do all the year-round do-gooding. I'm strictly seasonal.<br /><br />Skwishee - Pls. put in a good word for me if you get to heaven first. Although, Danny has been raiding the pantry every day before school for canned goods for his school's food drive. Maybe he'll be my ticket in?<br /><br />Bret - Interesting strategy (one that the school encouraged when the preschool parents were annoyed back then over the cost of the requested gifts). I guess I feel if I'm going to give, I'd prefer to help those in the most dire of situations (cold & hungry). How could I justify (in my own head) getting a teenager an Xbox over providing a coat to a cold 3 year old? With only a limited amount for charity, it doesn't make sense to me. <br /><br />Maplewood - Me, too. And forget what I said about my husband being kind - watching him during the Bears' game was like watching a madman. Oh, and he'd like to thank you for the local wings & waffle joint. He's going to check it out this week.Mariannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509329937576764550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-25759401674371180812011-12-12T10:35:54.225-06:002011-12-12T10:35:54.225-06:00You bring up some really valid points. This season...You bring up some really valid points. This season is such a roller coaster ride of emotions. Like many, I just want to get through it all. Oh and BTW...the Bears still suck...The Maplewood Block Forumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11988879127273734457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-90108908539388321262011-12-12T10:06:43.199-06:002011-12-12T10:06:43.199-06:00If you're going to sponsor a child or a family...If you're going to sponsor a child or a family, first, decide how much you're willing to give. Generally, I would give about 20 bucks, and maybe I would go in on sponsoring a family with some other people. So, if we pooled our resources and had $200, we'd do our best to give what the child/family wanted. Why would I want to give the child canned peas and mac and cheese? No kid needs an Xbox, but that's kind of the point of Christmas. Obviously, though, it's asking a lot for one person to buy a stranger such a gift. But if you go in with some people, check out a Pawn Shop and buy one. What's the harm?Bret R. Fullerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01912821465391370979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-5790248876332184262011-12-12T07:40:36.200-06:002011-12-12T07:40:36.200-06:00I completely understand why you balked at the tech...I completely understand why you balked at the tech requests on the giving tree. <br /><br />There are so many people out there who NEED food, and clothing, and somewhere safe to sleep at night that using that money to buy someone an Xbox instead would feel... wrong to me. <br /><br />I totally understand that teenagers want things that will make them fit in better with their peers, and who am I to say what defines a "need", but I can't afford to get my own kids all of that kind of stuff. <br /><br />For my own part, I'm going to continue donating to food banks and homeless shelters.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12248662505320434618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-53503506494057401212011-12-12T05:52:27.474-06:002011-12-12T05:52:27.474-06:00Part of all this is timing. Charity organizations ...Part of all this is timing. Charity organizations know that the best time of the year to try to squeeze money out of people is during the holiday seasons. I enjoy giving, but not so much in an organized public manner.esbbostonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09946279220170973147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6074904356505215216.post-33127663435986446542011-12-12T03:36:58.350-06:002011-12-12T03:36:58.350-06:00I agree with you on this one. I face the same dile...I agree with you on this one. I face the same dilemma here in Germany. Our social security net is so that you normally don't end up hungry and cold. So some argue now that we should help poor people get their kids all the stuff that kids need today (see the items on your first gift tree..) to fit in. I just can't accept giving money for these things which I don't even buy for my own kids. <br />Fortunately there are plenty of other ways to help others and other causes...<br />Merry Christmas!<br />VéroniqueVéroniquenoreply@blogger.com