The wish list
My second floor study has a door that leads to a small terrace overlooking the swimming pool in the clubhouse right across the street. There was some noise outside, I looked out, saw the pool and sighed. It’s been weeks since I last had a swim.
I debated whether I should today and decided I couldn’t. Too cold. And too much to do.
Tomorrow’s the girls’ last day in school, there’s going to be the annual Christmas parties and program and although I am not a student, I am doing a lot of the work. I had to go out before lunch to buy T-shirts in a particular shade of green that the girls need for their costume in the Christmas program. I walked under the midday sun, going through each and every clothes store in town, and cursed because I never could understand why the decision about costumes always has to be last minute thing. I had been asking the girls for weeks but whoever is in charge of the school program did not decide with finality until last Monday. Shit, man, don’t these people know how thick the shopping crowds are at this late date? And it’s not like they give the students enough time to go out and buy the costumes for themselves. The girls don’t get home until very late in the afternoon because of rehearsals. So, who else is there to go out and buy the t-shirts in the most baduy shade of green imaginable? And it’s not even a color that the girls will dare wear after the Christmas program unless they want to replace the car’s early warning device should we be unfortunate enough to have car trouble.
And then there’s the food for the class parties. Of course, I’ve been through this routine before and I know it’s always potluck. So even before the girls said anything definite, the last time I was at the supermarket, I bought enough stuff for two large trays of baked macaroni. That’s what they always ask me to make anyway. You know, the one with the cheesy topping.
Then, two nights ago, over dinner, after Sam had already confirmed it was going to be baked macaroni for her class party, Alex announced that her teacher-in-charge was personally requesting that she bring pork dinuguan, a dish I cooked for their Linggo ng Wika class party last August and which, apparently, her teacher liked so much. Flattering. But hardly considerate. Speedy blew his top even before I could say, “What does your teacher think I am, a restaurant where one can place an order?”
And then, there’s the matter of the Kris Kringle and the exchange gifts. I don’t know whose bright idea it was to adopt the wish list system. While the annual exchange gift was usually just a matter of setting a price range (in fact, in previous years, there was a price ceiling to discourage extravagance), this time, we have to go out and search for specific items all in accordance with capricious wish lists. Yes, capricious. Like a Final Fantasy 7 disc for PS2. Damn it, really. I am so losing my sense of humor. My tact evaporated a long ago. It’s tempting to print the image on the right, insert it in a frame and be done with the whole business.
But. BUT. It’s not the fault of the student who put the item in his wish list, is it? The students were told to do something, write a list of things they really want, and they did. The blame should fall squarely on whoever thought of using the wish list system for the exchange gift. Apparently, that person is NOT aware of the origin and nature of a wish list as it has become popular on the internet — wish lists are never mandatory. That’s why it’s a wish list. It’s there for everyone to see and the public is free to voluntarily grant a person any item on the wish list. The operative word is VOLUNTARY. And yet, here we are parents, obliged to buy a gift that must be found in the wish list of the students whose names were picked by our kids when the Kris Kringle activity started.
If that’s not encouraging materialism, I don’t know what is. I much appreciate the system where students are taught to have the grace to accept a gift that his classmate can afford and gave with all his heart.
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My toddler’s school asked us to bring a gift that Santa will give my kid. Imagine, our gift to her, magiging Santa’s gift to her?! Cheap ng school noh? And the costume for the Christmas dance was also decided 2 days before the party. Hay buhay!
Oh, that sucks, I’m sorry to hear that. There are still several days before Christmas and hopefully less reasons to try your patience. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Jenny, 2 days? Anak ng tokwa. You know, most times, parents can’t even enjoy the program anymore. By the day of the program, they’re freaking stressed out.
Ah, don’t worry, Karmi. Aside from these irritants, things are going great.
We are so looking forward to the Christmas break. I think that we can all use it — Speedy, Sam, Alex and me. We can take long walks, learn how to ride a bike, fly kites… And cook and eat LOL Happy holidays to you too.
If it’s supposed to be potluck (which means you bring what you want to cook), what the hell is the teacher making a request of a student on what to bring? That’s rude! Like you said, it’s flattering that the teacher liked your dish so much but really, it should be left up to the student (or the student’s parent) on what will be cooked and brought to the potluck.
Grabe natawa talaga ako sa requested “potluck” haha!
When I was in law school we had a “wish list” done for Kris Kringle, nakakatawa yung mga nakasulat dun, mostly practical stuff like highlighters and sticky tabs (no need to buy for the rest of the year haha), pati photocopied cases!
a lil app to help with the kris kringle: kringlr.com
hi ms. connie…
it’s the busiest time of the year. we have yet a free weekend since thanksgiving (last thursday of nov). luckily, kailea’s troop leader had a great idea for the brownie troop christmas celebration. this sunday, we are going to an organ christmas sing-a-long at the performing arts center, desserts after at one of the girls’ home and then a “used book” exchange. which i thought is a great idea. the girls can each share what they are reading and don’t have to spend money. it’s hard parting with a special book, though-
merry christmas to you all….
inna
nikita, o eh di Alex brought home baked choco chip oatmeal and walnut cookies. Much better than me going to the market early in the morning for the pork blood.
Mik, Alex said some of the items were really meant as jokes. Like some students listed “car”. Pero, still, the teacher shouldn’t be encouraging the attitude that gift giving on Christmas can be akin to extortion.
Oy, Chris, thanks! I should forward this to the people in the girls’ school. Saw a familiar name at Syndeomedia. Mae Paulino.
Inna, now that is a wonderful idea — used book exchange. That’s beyond sharing something material. It’s also sharing something one enjoys and loves. Galing!
Sass, tell everybody to go blow themselves and spend the last two weeks of this year how you deem fit for you and what your own family decides. Christmas isn’t an excuse for indirectly or directly inflicting abuse on others. Teach your children to stand up to this yearly crap.
Ba’h humbug!
I’m a bit of a scrooge this year myself but not from the same place you’re coming from. Tamad na tamad at pagod na pagod na lang ako talaga to make too much of an effort. If not for Kelvin, I would really rather enjoy the break and just hibernate at home.
We’re going away for the holiday so I didn’t bother to put up the tree etc. It does break my heart that he won’t be doing the decors this year, but something really has to give. I still have plastic bag marks and bloodclots on my arms from lugging xmas gifts. We finished the cards for his class but we’ve (as in the two of us, hubby’s useless) not done the neighbours’ yet. Thank goodness I’m not expected to cook this year!
I certainly don’t want to be in your shoes… Image pa lang nang SM during this time nahihilo na ko.
Hi Connie,
Tapos na ko sa ganyang stress bec. my daughter is already grown up. Pero nung time ng daughter ko i am really super stress kasi working mom ako tapos magbibigay ng things to bring for the christmas party 2 days or a day before the party. Grabe parang gusto mong sumigaw ng darna, akala yata ng mga teachers may magic wand ang mga mommies.
I am just soooo happy now that this is the first christmas that it’s stress free, no gift giving with in laws, hahahaha! Kaya i was able to enjoy christmas to the max, i went shopping to my hearts delight!
I really like ur house ms. connie..sobrang homey and super nice location. Namiss ko tuloy ung house namen sa province..wala lang hehe
It is really stressful for the parents during this time. The larger the family, the more there are demands, the bigger the stress.
So we make it a point to go on vacation in December (and enjoy the free time) and tell all our friends and relatives we are out of the country. Gifts are sent November or January (which is already bargain).
Hay, Ben, you said it. We chose a nice book (about Mary, Queen of Scots) instead of the Final Fantasy 7 for PS2. The recipient is a voracious reader anyway and I know she’ll love the story. And chocolate chip cookies — no dinuguan.
Auee, hay ako no mass gift giving. Ever. I don’t want to fall victim to the mentality that because I gave a gift to a couple of neighbors, I have to give to ALL the neighbors. Even in school, there is none of the give gifts to all the teachers for PR. NO WAY!
Susan, one Christmas to go and both girls will be in college. Then, I can be like lucky you! LOL
Trina, that’s one thing about living in Antipolo. Despite the proximity to Metro Manila, it’s still a lot like living in the province. Quiet, cool, laid back. Ah, I wouldn’t exchange that for the most expensive condo in Metro Manila.
d0d0ng, if airports weren’t crazy with thick crowds in December, I’d love to do that too. The girls wanted to go, actually. But I think of the jostling in the airport and I feel tired already. Worse, you know how it is with airport employees at this time of the year. Baka kahit memory card na binili from abroad, mag threaten pa sila na i-tax kung hindi ka bumunot ng pang Merry Christmas.
hay nako, kaya hindi tinuloy ang pagiging teacher eh, sorry pero i’ve already loss respect to most teachers here kasi sa mga ganyang mentality. instead of teaching kids good values eh puro materialism ang ituro. buti walang nag-pabili ng “vhs player” at titanic vhs tape as a project for physics! hehehe
Jet, I had a teacher in high school… I missed an exam. Instead of preparing a make-up exam, she just told me to provide Christmas decor for their department’s office (P.E. department) at pasado na ako. Asus, and what is the relation of Christmas decor with a P.E. test, aber?
That’s the problem with some schools here sa Pinas kasi they don’t regulate those practices. Nagbabayad ka na nga ng napakamahal na tuition marami ka pang gagastusin sa amutan, projects, costumes for foundation day etc. I know some parents from my kid’s school before na talagang nangungutang na lang just to pay for those costumes and amutan, which is really sad. Nagpapabunggahan kasi yung iba. Sana there’s an option na some parents can choose not to participate… I homeschool my son now so I don’t have something like that to deal with.
I was laughing while reading this post from beginning to end. hahaha. I just recalled and pictured myself years before when I was in the same predicament as yours now. Hay naku! Those last minute requirements really put me to the edge! But now, I’m off the hook. With just my youngest child studying and already in college, I can only look back and sigh with relief. Pero, alam mo – minsan – parang nakaka-miss din. Oh, those were the days…
Dee, I think it has a lot to do with the values of the school administrators and faculty. Kung mahilig sa ostentatious displays, it shows on the school projects.
Rhodora, konti na lang graduate na rin ako sa ganito hahahaha And I don’t think I’ll miss the tension.
i kinda miss the requisite curly tops, pretzels and choco mallows exchange gifts of the seventies. minsan nga good morning towels inside soap cases pa. i guess christmas parties and gift giving were a lot less complicated then.
the wish list system does seem preposterous: it’s like unleashing materialism and giving vent to a really commercial christmas. unless somebody wishes for peace on earth, huh?
Me neither, sobrang tamad na lang yata ako na big deal na yung cards to write for 4 neighbours
I certainly won’t be doing the post anymore, I stopped using the Post Office two years ago. From experience it’s a waste of money dahil di naman nakakarating sulat namin sa pamilya namin dyan sa Pinas.
Anna, re “unless somebody wishes for peace on earth”
Naku, I don’t think that was in anyone’s list.
Auee, re “it’s a waste of money dahil di naman nakakarating sulat namin sa pamilya namin dyan sa Pinas”
Works both ways. Two years ago, I sent out a huge bunch of Christmas cards for online friends, some of the recipients living abroad, walang nakarating.
Well, at least maswerte naman kami at naiintindihan ng school administrators namin ang krisis ngayon. So, instead of the usual Christmas program, they decided to hold a regular party for the kids. We just have to bring a food for 3 and an exchange gift worth 75 pesos. Not bad na. Why food for 3? So that they can also share their food with their clasmate. Christmas is sharing, isn’t it? The party was short and it was held during their regular class hours. And since 2 hours lang, most parents brought snacks — brownies, cakes, donuts, tetra pack juices, ice cream cups, and candies. The good part was we were able to share everything to the whole class. Hindi na nga mabigat sa bulsa ang share sa pagkain, pati pang-exchange gift affordable pa.
Naku, sana Cherleen, all schools can adopt the “simplicity” policy. It’s a better lesson for the kids. Kaso, mismong mga teachers, hilo sa bongga celebrations.