The last poll question was “Should I cut the umbilical cord?” The results were:
Yes – 13
No – 7
For once, I disagree with the majority. I am not cutting the cord. I barely trust myself to cut fingernails around here. Besides, I don’t pay any more if the doctor cuts the cord so we might as well let someone with an actual 4 year college degree handle the cutting tools around the newborn.
Duck Hunter just had a baby on Saturday and he cut the cord as well as cutting the cord on his previous 3 kids. I won’t pick on him because, well, he’s got enough on his plate with the new baby and all.
Bec at Bad Mummy pointed out that you only get one chance to cut the cord and you might regret it if you don’t.
I guess that is a valid argument, but I just don’t see it as a big symbolic moment and have absolutely no regrets about not cutting Geetle’s or Pookie’s and have not once thought about that decision one way or another over the last 4 1/2 years.
Like Bad Dad pointed out, I have plenty of other things to pay attention to during the delivery. My focus is going to be on helping BeAGoodMom until everything is done and things start to settle down.
I was kind of surprised to see “Yes” win so easily. I didn’t even know that cutting the umbilical cord was still a big deal these days.
Anyway, since I’m tired of thinking about the baby 24/7, let’s go a little different direction with the next poll. We are starting to think about Christmas presents. We are leaning toward buying one big family present (46 gallon tank/stand/and all the stuff you put inside the tank) and then only a couple presents for each of the kids. We seem to have a tendency to go this route. Plus, with all the stuff they get from the relatives, it just seems to make more sense for us this way.
What is your preference for buying presents for your kids? 1 big present with a couple other smaller presents or a bunch of medium presents? Vote in the sidebar and let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I think it depends on the age more than anything else. I would do more presents when they are younger and as they get older they get fewer but bigger presents.
Right now, since they are young (4 and 3), we get our kids lots of medium presents because half the thrill for them is OPENING THE PRESENTS. Imagine how disappointed they’d be to only open ONE big present. They’d be crestfallen.
I can’t wait for the day that I can just hand my daughter a $100 giftcard to her favorite store and be done with it. Because you know once she reaches 14 years old she won’t want anything I could possibly come up with on my own. =)
I love buying/making/getting lots of little cheap toys for Callum, and letting him run riot with them. He loves the opening of the present more than the actual present, so untill he’s a bit older I’m not going to splurge on a big present for him. Anyway, with 6 grandparents that tend to want to spoil the kids, buy them big/expensive things we couldn’t afford anyway! lol.
We’re not a family of much money as you can maybe tell, but after years of practise I’m good at finding bargins
I think I’d still be the same even if we did have extra money.
Maybe if we bought him just one ‘larger’ present, he would focus his attention on that rather than his limited attention span being spread out over more items… but I doubt it. He seems as fickle as I am, and would appreciate something else when his attention wanes…
sorry, I’m talking in circles. I only got 3 hours sleep last night and I’m a bit muddled now it’s almost midnight. (it was my own fault, I was catching up on internet drama and stumbling… hence the lack of sleep!
)
Doh! I thought you were asking because you didn’t know what you wanted to do – my bad.
I’m so looking forward to christmas this year!
I’m actually going to comment on cutting the cord (since I missed the original post) – I say yes, but you’re right; it’s not that big of a deal. I mean it is a big deal, but it’s not, really.
If you want the same experience in the comfort of your own home, cut an uncooked sausage with a pair of basic scissors.
I’m glad I did it for the twins, but I probably won’t do it again. I felt more like I was in the way than anything.
Oh yeah, one big present.
The Squeaker’s getting a 1080i hi-def, flat screen television. I think she’ll be very excited.
Jaynee, the thought of giving money to kids gets me right here (in case you can’t see, I’m pointing at my heart). I’ll tell you why in the post when the poll is done.
Rob, thanks for actually describing what it feels like to cut the umbilical cord and, thereby, reinforce that I won’t be doing it. Eww.
As for The Squeaker, she has pretty good test and anytime you need somebody to babysit her over night, let me know a couple days in advance so I can update my Netflix queue.
Bec, you’re not the only one looking forward to Christmas. Geetle had a page in a toy catalog where she literally circled every item on the page. Sleeping bags and indoor tents. Fortunately, she’s more distracted by Halloween and waiting for the baby right now.
Everybody else, thanks for your input. In this particular instance there are no right or wrong answers. I know our reasons for how we buy presents are different for each kid but at this point come out to the same result. Keep your thoughts coming.
My kids LOVE our fishtank (5 and 2). They are fabulous presents. I highly reccommend getting some Cichilids rather than boring regular tropical fish though. They are colourful and more entertaining (they are territorial so they fight a fair bit more) than brain-dead angelfish, tetras and gouramis.
Here is an idea… get the tank, set it up, put a couple of cheap fish in there until the tank “cycles”. Then as the Christmas present, let each kid pick out a couple of things for the tank and their very own fish.
Also, the “Python” tank cleaner that hooks up to your tap to do the water siphoning… also worth the cost.
Wookie, Thanks for the tips. We’re still trying to figure out how to get the tank set up. There is currently a 10 gallon tank in the spot where the new 45 gallon tank is going to go. I’m probably going to have to set up a temporary tank to move everybody into right before Christmas and then set up the big tank on Christmas Eve and then we’ll put the stuff into the tank on Christmas day and move the fish back into the tank a week later.
Because we already have fish, we probably need to stay away from the cichlids. I am looking forward to getting a little school of some kind of fish in the bigger tank, though.
We do have on of those Pythons. I love that thing and am looking forward to using it on a tank that will take less than 2 minutes to do the 20% water change. It is almost too strong for our little tank.
I’ll post some pictures when everything gets set up.