Stephanie, you are taking this gifts thing way too seriously. The *only* thing you really need to do at Christmas is recognize them as family to let them know that you still care about them. Okay?

Buy your aunt two of the small candles and call it good. Buy your other aunt a smaller gift card. (But there's two people!!) You don't need to spend so much on your cousin. You could probably get by with buying her a lip balm and a lip shimmer just like you wanted. (But it comes in a cute box set!!) You do not need to spend a fortune even on your husband, because it is not about all the gifts, it is about just recognizing them and telling them you love them with a thoughtful gift. And BELIEVE ME. You have done more than enough thinking about these gifts and it really, truly shows in the gifts you chose. Okay?

Bottom line: IT IS OKAY TO BUY JUST ONE GIFT. You are not being a cheapskate. You are still the "kids" of the family, and parents spoil their kids, not the other way around!! That is the way the pattern always has been and always will be, forever and ever amen, and it is not because there's something wrong, it is because that is just how parents love their kids. Especially in your family.

Sheesh, if only I had figured this out four Christmases ago...

-Stephanie

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