Archive for the ‘holidays’ Category
November 28th, 2007
Dear Straight Talk: I was just telling another shopping-challenged individual that each year you run a list of what teenagers want for the holidays. Could you do that again? I am not in touch with their world and your column is how I know what’s going on. — Thanks
Dear Thanks: You’re welcome. Here are some great ideas direct from the source. This year, we have included favorite books. A word to the wise: ask the teenager you are shopping for to provide you a list, that way you can hit the mark. In return, give that teenager your list of $5 to $20 items, along with some chores or tasks you’d like done, so they have a chance to hit the mark, too. If we’re going to spend money on the Holidays — and most of us do — let’s not buy more stuff for the landfill.
From Geoff, 21: Indispensable for high school and college students are USB sticks, two-gig minimum ($10 to $20 online). Personally, I’d like the Intuos Digital Art Pad ($300) and Asus EEE laptop (small, Linux-powered, $400). The Nintendo Wii remains a top gift as does anything from the tech “wish list” at www.wired.com.
From Bird, 17: I’ve asked for a sound system for my car. My grandparents always buy me stuff I can’t use or can’t stand — I don’t tell them, of course — so this year, I requested money for my trip to California.
From Shelby, 16: I would like earrings, makeup, brightly-colored socks, a fun blanket and pillows, a romantic comedy DVD, flowers from an admirer.
From Betsy, 19: I’m asking for money so I can go to Europe.
From Sawyer, 16: I need the basics: socks, underwear, sweat pants, hoodie. Also would like a computer microphone so I can talk online, an inexpensive iPod, and a Panini sandwich griddle.
From Jennifer, 13: I want a grey pea coat, sweat pants, shirts from Wet Seal.
From Kendal, 20: I’d love a GPS system for my car, Sopranos and Gilmore Girls DVD sets, and “Oblivion: Game of the Year” (an X-box 360 game). For clothes, I love gift certificates so I can buy what I like. Returning clothes is difficult, especially without receipts.
From Julian, 15: I am hoping to receive money to travel to Ecuador.
From Laura 21: I would like a silver iPod Nano, car seat covers, white or blush cashmere scarf and gloves from Macy’s, gift certificates to American Eagle, American Apparel, J. Crew, Victoria’s Secret, Nordstrom, Barnes & Noble, Origins, Whole Foods, or for pedicure, manicure, or massage.
From Lennon, 21: Cool T-shirts, new tennis shoes, mattress topper and duvet cover.
From Mariah, 15: I want a cell phone, recordable CDs, clothes, money.
From Megan, 18: I love things that are meaningful and come from the heart no matter what they are. Parents don’t always know what you want, but it’s nice that they try.
FAVORITE BOOKS:
Girls’ List: The Giver (Lowry), Pride and Prejudice (Austin), Echo (Block), Wheel of Time (Jordan), Unbearable Lightness of Being (Kundera), Madame Bovary (Flaubert), Jitterbug Perfume (Robbins), What If? (Cowley), His Dark Materials (Pullman), Poppy (and other Avi books), The Color of Water (McBride), Five People You Meet In Heaven (Albom), Me Talk Pretty One Day (Sedaris), The Da Vinci Code (Brown), Down the Long Hills (L’Amour), Harry Potter. Comics: Zits.
Guys’ List: Power of One (Courtenay), The Book Thief (Zusak), Wheel of Time (Jordan), Story Like the Wind (van der Post), Redwall (Jacques), Song of Ice And Fire (Martin), The World According to Garp (Irving), Villa Incognito (and others by Robbins), Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings. Comics: Zits, Calvin & Hobbes, Get Fuzzy, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Miller), Watchmen (Moore), The Sandman (Gaiman), Astro City (Busiek).
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December 13th, 2006
Dear Straight Talk: My husband and I have two children, ages 7 and 9, and we struggle financially. My husband also has a daughter from his first marriage that lives here part-time. “Sarah” is 16 and she has never liked me. Her mother is well-off and Sarah has everything she could ever want. She comes and goes like the Queen of Sheba. We used to spend equally on the children at the holidays, but is it okay to spend less on her knowing she gets plenty at her mom’s?—Feeling the pinch
Dear Feeling: You’ll be feeling more than the pinch. At gift-giving time you’ll feel like the wicked stepmother. For a child, receiving gifts is about feeling loved. Giving her less will only make her feel less loved. As long as you’re married to Sarah’s dad, you will have a relationship with Sarah your whole life. You may never bond with her, but where your emotions are lacking, make your actions count. In this case, the appropriate action is to spend equal amounts on all the children and equal time contemplating the right gifts. Life is long. If you start treating her like you love her, one day you just may. That would be the finest gift of all.
Here’s more from the teen staff—and keep reading for a letter from another stepparent.
From Marie, 16: This is so familiar. My step-dad thinks I get everything I want from my real dad. I feel so left out sometimes when it comes to opening presents. Last year I only got three things from him. I know I’m not his kid, but I wish he would treat me equally.
Dear Straight Talk: I am shopping this year for my new stepson, “Kyle”. You did not make it easy on me with all the electronics on the teen Christmas list that ran last week. Kyle plays video games obsessively and all he wants is a new gaming system and more games—which, to me, is a waste. He’ll be watching closely what I give my kids and what I give him. I think I’ll get him a skateboard, some clothes, a desk for his room and maybe a bean-bag chair. It’s important to give each kid about the same number of gifts. At age 12, Kyle seems to count the number of gifts more than their value.—Kids count
Dear Kids count: Kids do count, in more ways than one. And you’re making sure Kyle counts where it matters most: as a valued family member.
I wish more parents had your imagination and strength to avoid the gaming industry. For those parents who are buying games, the games to avoid are: “Scarface: The World is Yours,” “Dead Rising,” “Saints Row,” “Gangs of London,” “The Sopranos,” “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories,” “Reservoir Dogs,” “Mortal Kombat: Unchained,” “The Godfather: Mob Wars,” and “Just Cause.” This list is from The National Institute on Media and the Family’s 11th annual video game report card. All are rated M (age 17 and up), and all excessively glamorize sex and violence.
Dear Straight Talk: I want to share a holiday tradition that started unexpectedly in my family when my children were young. My church had a “gift tree” and I chose a card for a needy family with two kids about the same ages as my youngest. As we headed for the store with the card I was worried they would want to shop for themselves. But it never happened. They searched the toy aisle for almost an hour shopping for the kids in this family and never once asked for anything for themselves. It was a wonderful experience. My kids are teens now and we have done it every year since.—Lincoln Mom
Dear Mom: What a beautiful story. These “Giving Trees” are cropping up everywhere. You can find them in churches, banks, and other businesses. What a blessing to give your children the gift of bringing pleasure to those in need. I hope your letter plants many seeds today.
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December 6th, 2006
Dear Straight Talk: Last year you asked the teen panel what they wanted for Christmas. Could you run that question by the teen panel again? I have no kids of my own but I have seven nieces and nephews ranging from age 12 to 25. What do they want?—Uncle Glenn
Dear Uncle Glenn: The teens are glad you asked. Since many teens prefer gift cards, to make your giving personal, I recommend buying an additional gift that can be opened along with it—but make sure that gift is practical. For someone on their own or ready to leave the nest, some household items I have heard mentioned include a lamp, new towels, a Fuzzy-Logic rice cooker, a salad spinner, and a night stand. For high school students—and college students, too—desk accessories such as a stapler, scissors, tape dispenser, three-hole punch, or an electric pencil sharpener are the little things that make school easier.
Here are their wish lists. If it’s electronics you’re looking for, Geoff is the expert by any standards.
From Geoff, 21: The number one gift is the “Wii” by Nintendo. This is the game where you stand up and play virtual tennis, bowling, golf, etc. It’s sold out, but Nintendo restocks all stores weekly, so check back with retailers. It runs at $250 compared to all other console game stations that run $400 to $600.
Also by Nintendo is their portable game station called the “Nintendo DS” (short for dual screen). It’s small with great battery life and VERY fun games. Price is around $130, with games running $15 to $35 each.
Other than that, I can’t recommend any of the other gaming systems. “PlayStation 3” lacks fun factor, is over $600 without games and is sold out till after Christmas. “Xbox360” is decent, but the price is still up there around $400.
I also can’t recommend anything iPod (though it’s still the chic player for young teens). The best is Toshiba’s “gigabeat,” the highest rated MP3 player of all time. It’s the easiest to use, doesn’t require extra software, and has better battery life. It’s a bit more expensive than an iPod but it has 15 times the storage capacity.
From Katie, 13: For girls my age, the best gift cards for clothing are from American Eagle, Abercrombie & Fitch, Wet Seal, Styles for Less, Rave, and Crossroads Trading Post. For practical things, a lot of girls like Bath & Body Works. But if you’re a boy buying for a girlfriend, forget gift cards. Get her jewelry.
From Marie, 16: You can’t go wrong with a CD player or a gift certificate for CDs.
From Lennon, 20: At my age it’s about what I need not what I want. What I need are socks and underwear, and after that, pants and shirts. I hate shopping, so forget the gift cards and just call me for my sizes. What I want: A computer that doesn’t take ten minutes to start up and my own island in Greece.
From Peter, 19: A digital camera or camcorder, even a cheap one, is a great gift. For gift cards, it’s Amazon.com hands down, followed by Fry’s and Best Buy. Lots of people have iTunes—not just iPod owners—and iTunes gift cards are fantastic at a buck a song.
For clothes, I’d settle for Target or Mervyn’s but it’s always nice to receive a higher end certificate from, say, Banana Republic.
I’d also love a month’s payment for car, rent or insurance—or a complementary trip to IKEA with $100 to spend. If you want to get personal, think homemade food (in my case, think homemade pie). If someone is coming home for Christmas, a scrapbook or photo collage is just the thing to make them homesick when they leave again.
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