Yes, ladies, there is hope out there. Recently, I have been talking to my DH about Christmas and Christmas gifts for SD.

I was pretty put out and annoyed because SD just had her confirmation and BM's family just went wayyyy overboard!! (At least, in my opinion they did.)

DH and I got SD a nice Willow Tree statue (Sisters of the Heart) and a book about the Saint's name that she chose, and a prayer card. We got SD's sponsor (her cousin from her mom's side) the same Sisters of the Heart statue.

DH's family got SD a Bible, and a nice Onyx looking Cross, etc.

BM's family went SWAROVSKI. BM's mom got SD a bracelet and a charm. Both Aunts got Swarovski charms. Her sponsor got her a charm. Her mom got her a Swarovski necklace and a beautiful box from Things Remembered.

To be honest, each charm cost about what DH and I got for SD - $50. So it's not that they completely all overspent. It's more to me, what Swarovski means. It's the message, I guess. It also seriously irritates me that SD has such beautiful jewelry at 16 years old. I think it's excessive. I had to wait and work for a very long time for any jewelry that I truly love and appreciate.

DH didn't see the issue. He thought the money was the same, so why does it bother me? He also said he doesn't see the need for ten pairs of shoes in the girl's closet. And I was like, well, her shoes are CHEAP.. she wears them every day, and wears them until they run out. I'd venture to say that almost all of her pairs of shoes add up to the charm bracelet and necklace!!

So we've been having some disagreements on how to much to spend on SD and the fact that I am concerned that she gets too much too soon and takes it for granted. It's pretty, yes. She loves it, yes. BUT that doesn't make it appropriate as a gift. At least in my eyes.

I write this, knowing that for SD's birthday, DH went and got her a pair of Swarovski rainbow earrings.

So here I have a 16 year old kid draped in Swarovski and I'm angry and somewhat bitter about it. I don't think it's fair, or warranted or DESERVED at that age. Even though she's a decent kid.

For Christmas he looked at a $150 Hello Kitty necklace. And I was like No... its too much. We can do this without spending that kind of money. I'll spend it on a really cute coat that she can wear for the winter!! But not on a necklace.

Anyway, through all of this, I did get my DH to admit that he is a guilty daddy and that I do help him to realize it. We balance each other out. I just hate being the one that's always seeming to take the hard line and say, "C'mon... Is this necessary for this occasion?"

He knows he is. He understands. But he still can't help it. The one thing we have going for us though is that he'll listen. And if I truly object, he'll say OK... we don't need to get that.

So I guess I'm venting because I end up being the tough one... and it disturbs me to see a kid get what took me years of working to get.

At least my husband listens to me though.

OY VEY