Christmas 🎄 is just around the corner, and between all the time spend at work, corporate Christmas dinners, Christmas breakfast and socializing in 5 grade, 3 grade and kindergarten and private “gluhwein” get togethers, the Minimal5 Mom and Dad have to find time trying to do some Christmas shopping 🛍 for presents.
While all of this is happening the fear of the christmas dinner is also crawling closer and closer. The planning, preparing and eventual execution of the traditional danish Christmas dinner with duck, sweet caramelised potatoes, sauce, red cabbage, apples with redcurrant jelly and finally risalamande for desert.
All of this takes careful planning in trying to strike some sort of balance between time spent⏳, money spent💸, hopefully keeping it carbon neutral 🌎while at the same time trying to keep the kids happy.
How is all of this even possible you ask? – a controlled state of chaos, where everyone gives a bit, takes a bit, and acknowledges that one cannot have everything and sacrifices will have to be made while at the same time keeping the eyes one the ball of what you think is the most important thing in exactly your Christmas Eve.
When it comes to Christmas present 🎁 shopping, a lot of considerations will have to be made.
In the “extended” Minimal5 family – which includes uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, parents in-law, and grandparents current “understandings” and decisions include;
Grand parents 👵👵- Limited presents preferably eatable, or some sort of liquor. Definitely no “stuff”. Also, we are down to two now. Don’t know if that is good or bad in a minimalistic optic?
MiL’s and FiL’s 👴👵🧓- definitely on the present shopping list, as there is an element of “kickback” here. (Note to self – limited “stuff” – go for experiences, extra credit is given if it involves own family.)
Uncle and aunts 👨🦰👩🦰👨👩🦳👩👩👱♂️- are off the present shopping list, as we (Minimal5 mom and dad) are also off their list in a voluntary mutual agreement. This in a bid to keep costs and time consumption down.
Nephews and nieces 💁♂️💁♂️👶💁♀️💁♀️💁♀️👶 – definitely on the Christmas shopping list, as our kids will be getting presents from them as well. (Note to self. – money or experience to those old enough not to care about a “hard” present with toys.) Extra bonus info; used a gift card from last years Christmas to get one of the presents 😉.
Own kids 💁♂️💁♂️👶 – definitely on the shopping list. (Note to self – keep costs around 120 USD pr child, and aim for toys we do not already have in the household, opt for money and gift cards if on the wishlist.)
Wifey 👩🦰 (only one here!) – I a complete minimalistic all-in the mutual agreement this year is to NOT exchange gifts. Still not sure if this is a hoax and how to navigate this one. (Apparently home made presents or a card are ok)
Current status is a roughly 90% completion of the above. I’m fine. Can start focusing on the dinner 🍽 and more importantly the wine 🍷 choice.
Merry Christmas 🎄🎁🙏 to all of my followers out there.
/Minimal5
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