Reese Witherspoon's Kids Aren't Spoiled
Seeing as how Reese Witherspoon is the highest paid actress in all of Hollywood, if she spoiled her kids rotten at Christmas time it wouldn't really be all that surprising. But, the Oscar winner is determined to keep Ava and Deacon down to Earth, by not showering them with gifts.
When asked about Christmas presents, Reese says,
"I’m a little strict about that kind of stuff. I think kids do best when they only have a couple of things that they really
enjoy. I try and stay away from the gluttony of things."
The kids won't have crazy mountains of gifts under the tree this year.
“They don’t appreciate it as much. When they only get one or two things they
really like it.”
I know some people who go nuts at Christmas time because they want their kids to have a holiday like their family never had. Others try to have some restraint, but honestly, I don't know anyone who limits gifts to one or two under the tree. Which end of the spectrum do you fall on?
Miss Reese definately has had some work done.
300 points
Limit! I've nannied and known way too many spoiled kids to ever want to spoil my nieces or my future children. Also- kids have no idea when you buy used things, fyi. My nieces are getting a used bunk bed (25 bucks) and a used tumbling mat ($0) from their parents and me, respectively, for Christmas. They are going to be OVERJOYED.
When youre as well off as her I can totally see this making perfect sense as they probably recieve alot of smaller gifts on pretty regular intervals. With other families though, Christmas (and birthdays) are the one time of year you tend to get gifts so spoiling a bit doesn't hurt!
4705 points
Agreed!
7930 points
limit, definately. i mean, has anyone seen my super sweet sixteen? those kids are beyond spoiled and it's the parents fault for giving them any and everything that they want. we always got five gifts a piece and i never complained because it was always the stuff that i really wanted. children need LIMITS.
Growing up we would receive one present from our parents and one from Santa. Last year my husband and I went all out for our kids and they stopped playing with everything within a week. It was a big waste of money! This year they are getting just two, small presents each and nothing electronic.
Anyone want to buy a barely used Elmo Knows Your Name? :D
1015 points
I bought one last year for my son - but it came with no instructions on how to change the name and I got it cheap from a Toy store that was going out of business. Guess that is why. So it says "Hello John" and my son's name is Jacob. HA
Guess I will give it to my Dad - his name is John :)
My kids get one gift from me, and one from Santa, plus their stockings are filled. I think that's plenty. Add that to the gifts they will get from their father, 2 sets of grandparents, two sets of aunt/uncle, and another from a cousin, and they are totally set. Sometimes I shop on Boxing Day for clothes for them for the next year.
Also, as a family we decide on one volunteer activity every Christmas. This is difficult, it's actually hard to find a place to donate just a few hours! The kids look forward to this every year, it makes them feel good to give to others.
300 points
My parents would get my brother and I each one kind-of extravagant gift each year (example: I got an American Girl doll or a dollhouse) and one nice thing for the family. I don't think they ever spent over 200$, and we were still ALWAYS pumped about what we got. And we played with everything as well, and there wasn't a massive amount of clutter!
I think parents need to restrict what they give their kids. Children these days are really extremely spoiled. (With the cellphones, digital cameras, iPods etc) I am in college and don't have many of the things that people half my age are carrying around! (I've had to buy my own cellphones starting when I was 16, and no iPod or digital camera for this girl! Food and clothing and schoolbooks come first!)
I absolutely agree w/ Reese... children should be limited to the amount of gifts they receive...ESPECIALLY if it isn't EARNED!...the cloth in which i was cut from...ya only got something on ya b-day and Xmas...everything in between was because ya earned it...I.E. straight A's...etc
Kids now-a-days have it waaaay too easy!...and lets not even start on the videogames! GARBAGE!
I used to work with a guy who said they would get their girls a bunch of toys for Christmas and then the kids would just open it, be excited for a second, and throw it aside to open the next one. So what did they do? They took the gifts that were thrown aside, put them in the closet and gave them to the kids again on their birthdays!! haha! They were young enough that they didn't even notice they already got the gifts... I guess this strategy can't last forever, but it totally cracked me up.
69128 points
I fall on Reese's end of the spectrum. We've never spent more than $50-$75 each on our kids. And that usually includes a pair of PJs and an ornament each year. :) I can't imagine the kids who get video game systems and TVs for xmas - that just seems like so much money. Maybe if we had that kind of money, I might think about it differently? I dunno..
Just playing devil's advocate here. If your parents had been very wealthy when you were a child and they only got you a gift or two, wouldn't you think that was selfish? I'm sure Reese Witherspoon drives a very nice car, has designer clothes, gets luxury spa treatments, etc. It seems that if she does do those things and then her kids get very little for Christmas it could upset the kids, especially as they get older and look back. They may wonder if they weren't a priority. Just an alternative point of view...
300 points
Unfortunately, we tend to think that buying a ton of gifts for kids makes them appear to be the priority. Sure, one nice thing here or there is nice, but what kids REALLY want are wonderful parents who want to spend time with them. My parents bought themselves things, too. We scraped by, but we had a house and a car and all of that... they were the adults! That doesn't mean I got everything I asked for.
OR maybe they get pretty much whatever they want throughout the rest of the year.
2675 points
I think it depends on the kids too. My mother always used to give us loads of presents & I can assure I loved every each one. I still have most of them perfectly conserved & my daughter plays with them. On the other hand, I think what is important is to make kids understand that the parents give them what they CAN afford. I hate to see parents buying beyond their means just to please their kids.
300 points
My family was poor. I got my brother's old bike painted pink one year for Christmas. They didn't think I'd notice.
While I agree with her, I do go all out and overboard at Christmas. I spend way too much and as usual it's old news within a week or two. Throughout the year I don't spoil them though. They get what they need. My daughter is a clothes freak at her young age, and I know she got that from me so it's all my fault. Guess this is all something I should work on for a New Year's resolution.
1155 points
I don't have kids, but I leaned my lesson last year buying a gift for my favorite kid (who was 3 at the time). I bought this giant themed basket, it had puzzles, books, stuffed animals, all sorts of stuff.
He was overwhelmed, so he did what most kids do...he picked one toy and played with that. He occasionally played with one or tro if the other toys, but only if they fit into what he was doing with the stuffed animal he had immeadiately latched on to.
His mom just looked at me knowingly and laughed.
63918 points
Reese looks amazing in these pictures. I love her jewelry and coat especially!
Also I think it's great that Reese isn't spoiling her kids but rather making them appreciate what they do have!
Visit my fashion blog!
I'm european and we don't go crazy like that on Christmas! A lot of families, including mine, buy one gift for another member of the family. This way, each person gets one gift and everyone only had to buy one present. Am I being clear? :) Usually we also decide a prize around which the present should cost. It's easy and a lot of fun..As a child, I never felt like I wanted more presents, it was just the tradition in our families and it still is. Children shouldn't be so spoiled, I think it's kind of sad.
i agree with reese, america goes overboard, in england children get 1 or 2 good gifts and they appreciate it so, here in america we have my super sweet sixteen birthdays and killings at walmart over material things, it's completely unnecesary all of it, the child gets overwhelmed, and jaded by the whole experience
hey vera could you pls take those two ugly chihuahuas from you v spot logo
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