The Cost of Christmas

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Santa Claus is coming to town. We got less than
two weeks, my friends, until the big guy makes his
trip down from the North Pole. Let's start one out
five point seven West, Michigan's Christmas Station. It's schmitty, But
that's what I want to talk about this morning because
I got a message from a mom and she was
asking for some advice on how open you are with

(00:20):
your kids about how expensive Christmas can sometimes be. Because
think about it, right, at least in our house, we
have our gifts from Santa right, and then we have
gifts from mom and dad, And it's interesting to kind
of figure out that journey because I know a lot
of families. This is definitely a tough time. It's been

(00:41):
a tough year. We talked about this a lot last
week with radio than you know, getting people to give
at the same time saying we understand there's been a
lot of things that have taken your money. It's been
an expensive year for so many people. Are you open
with your kids about that, Like, Hey, listen, I don't
know if you're going to get this this year from
mom and dad, or I'm not sure if we're going

(01:02):
to be able to make this happen. Are you open
about the cost of Christmas? I think it's a really
interesting conversation. I think there's pros and cons to this.
I don't think it's ever a bad idea, you know,
just to have that grateful reminder, like look around though,
you know, we're together, we're healthy, we have a roof
over our heads, food on the table. Or do you

(01:24):
just want to keep that magic alive and do your
best six one six, four five eight, one oh five seven.
How much do you talk to your kids about the
cost of Christmas? Do you think it's a good idea? Hey, Cassandra,
I think it's a great idea.

Speaker 2 (01:38):
I think the you know, giving your kids the reason
ensured they're trusting you and also teaches them about, like,
you know, real life scenarios where stuff like that happened.

Speaker 1 (01:50):
See that's I know, like growing up, I was always told, like,
you know, a real blessing is the fact that your food,
your fed, your clothed, you're educated. We work really hard
for that.

Speaker 2 (01:59):
Yeah, my dad tell me that too, and it would
honestly make me like go from like a spoiled brat
to very understanding like okay.

Speaker 1 (02:05):
Oh see, to go from a spoil bread to very understanding.
There's a good parental hack four five eight one oh
five seven. Henry, are you al them with your kids
about the cost of Christmas?

Speaker 3 (02:16):
Man? I mean, I think it all depends on how
old they are, Like, I think it's definitely better. Like
my parents would never really ever real with me. But
I feel like, you know, you just be upfront and honest,
and it's not all about the gift, man, It's about
to love you generate at the house during the holidays.
You know, people get too tied up into gifts, you know,
and if you have to be real with your children,
I feel like at the end of the day, that's

(02:37):
what's fast formed.

Speaker 1 (02:38):
I love that it's not all about the gifts, being
surrounded by that love. Wenry. That was a good perspective
to end on here. What do you think open about
how much certain things at Christmas cost? Six one six
four five eight one oh five seven Star one oh
five points seven West Michigan's official Christmas station. Good Friday
Morning at Schmidty. We're talking about how honest you are

(03:00):
with your kids about the cost of Christmas. Are you
able to look at them and say, you know what
we can't afford that this year, or are you trying
to keep every piece of magic alive? Four or five
eight one o five seven, Good morning. Who's this?

Speaker 4 (03:13):
My name is Katie.

Speaker 1 (03:14):
Katie, how honest are you with your kids about the
cost of Christmas?

Speaker 4 (03:18):
I'm pretty honest. Our house is a little rough. You know.
Their dad and I both have full time jobs, and
they're good jobs, but it's still it's so hard. My
girls do an expensive sport, So we are honest in
the fact that you guys want to do this expensive sport,
this extracurricular activity. We can't do everything, and so Christmas
is usually things that go their competitive answers.

Speaker 1 (03:41):
Oh yeah, oh that is an expensive extracurricular.

Speaker 4 (03:44):
You know, Christmas is to get new shoes or you
get a new makeup brush set. Watching them enjoy it
is a joy to us, but it comes at a price.
You want to do this and we have to give
up something somewhere else.

Speaker 1 (03:57):
Actually think that's a really great lesson to teach. I mean,
that's life, Katie. Don't you think.

Speaker 4 (04:02):
Absolutely life is a given cake if you're not always
going to get everything. And so my girls at this
point are our understanding of that because We've done that
for a number of years now.

Speaker 1 (04:14):
Oh we love that, Katie. You sound like a phenomenal mom.
Merry Christmas, you're doing a good job.

Speaker 4 (04:19):
Merry Christmas you too. Thank you so much.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
I love that. Oh us mom's out here making it work. Katie,
we really appreciate you.