How do you shop for 16 kids?

I know it may not be as good for local merchants as if I were to go Christmas shopping for all my children and grandchildren, but how do you do it when you've got 16 kids and 14 grandkids?

Even a small gift for everyone would cost me a month's pay or more. Mrs. Griz and I used to try and budget an equal amount for each child but that was difficult to do. It seems we always ran over for some and then felt like we needed to increase the amount spent for the rest as well.

And what does a fellow buy for his grown kids that they will really appreciate? Most make more than I do and have all that they really need. In fact, while I may purchase the economy model or the less-expensive version, they would pick out the best and often the more expensive. And, if we actually stay within our budget, we may seem cheap.

Buying clothes is just not an option because my idea of style is not my kids' and grandkids' idea and what I would buy them to wear would probably never be worn unless it was first given to charity or sold in a garage sale. I don't even try to buy clothes for Mrs. Griz, so how could I ever please the younger generations?

Electronic gadgets may please but, once again, I can't say that I am current enough on the latest and greatest equipment. I still can't operate my TV remote and I struggle with my cell phone. I quit tryingto keep up with FaceBook because I had to read tons of information I didn't want to know for a tidbit or two of useful stuff. And, to be honest with you, some of the information posted by my kids and grandkids I was a lot happier not knowing.

Candies and cookies won't work because some items have to be shipped great distances and some of the kids are on health food kicks and might interpret a gift laden with sugar as a death wish. Since sweets are out, I'll just have to keep what Mrs. Griz bakes right here at home. That's just the way the cookie crumbles.

Another issue with buying gifts for everyone is the cost of shipping them. We used to be able to handdeliver most but that has become almost impossible as schooling and jobs have scattered our children and grandchildren across numerous states between the Mississippi and the Pacific. Even if we are able to see some over the holidays, we probably won't get to see all, and that means shipping.

I don't wish to take business away from the Postal Service in these troubling times, but just the postage to mail packages to 16 households is enough to use up our budget. Sometimes the cost to pack and ship is almost as much as the cost to purchase. Think how I felt when we busted the budget shopping and had to spend a few hundred more to get everything shipped anddelivered! It just didn't make sense.

We've tried gift cards in the past and that worked pretty well. The grandkids liked going to the store, picking out something they actually desired and using their own “credit card” to make the purchase. Our kids may have appreciated that too, but we never knew to which store to send them. Some live far enough away from shopping centers that using a gift card could require more fuel costs to get there than the card was worth. For some, even the closest Walmart is 70 to 90 miles away.

And so, what do we do? Mrs. Griz came up with a good suggestion this year, and I think we'll try it. We can get gifts or send money or gift cards to grandkids in smaller amounts because they will still appreciate it enough to be able to buy a toy or game. But for the kids, we think we'll give a nice amount to a charity in their name - perhaps to a charity which helps children who would otherwise be without.

We do hope they'll all understand. It will free us of the hustle of endless shopping and the added costs of shipping gifts all over the country and give us time to appreciate the real gift we celebrate during this season - the gift of God's dear Son and His atoning sacrifice for our sins. And it would be a way to share the blessings which have been showered upon us and our kids with some who would truly appreciate an act of kindness as we celebrate the birth of Christ Jesus, our Savior!

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer. He may be contacted by email at [email protected].