<p> 3. Involve your children in cost-cutting decisions and making plans for Christmas celebrations. It just may be that if included, they come up with some Happy Holiday Season Depends on good ideas. Being part of the planning Family Financial Planning process, they will then likely enjoy what you mutually determine. Many kids have parents convinced that life will just be a bust without the latest video 4. Pool resources. You may not be able to game or hottest cell phone. With the afford that one special gift yourself. recession looming large though, parents are However, if you go in on it with a few struggling to shelter the children from their relatives, it may then be affordable. So financial and employment woes, yet bestow the answer may not be how many gifts upon them a memorable Christmas. are given and received, but how many people contribute to that one special As parents withhold their concerns, their present. children continue to up the ante for this year's Christmas take. The risk is either a Children typically respond and adjust better disappointing Christmas or overwhelming to change when they are part of the process. New Year's bills. The recession is real and discussing it with them can help them to cope better and you The challenge is for parents to resist the to feel better. Children may be initially incoming tide of subtle and not so subtle disappointed and that would be normal and expectations. reasonable. However, they too must learn to live within their means and make the best of To reduce the risk of Christmas gift life and circumstances. A memorable disappointment and overwhelming bills, try Christmas may just be one where everyone some family financial Christmas planning comes together with a workable plan to with these strategies: enjoy the day.</p><p>1. Be honest and forthright with teenaged Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW children about your financial and (905) 628-4847 employment concerns, without trying to [email protected] instill fear. Let your children know of http://www.yoursocialworker.com your plans to survive the economic meltdown including cutting back on the Gary Direnfeld is a social worker. Courts in Christmas gift-giving budget. This may Ontario, Canada, consider him an expert on actually put them to ease despite their child development, parent-child relations, upset at the impact of the current marital and family therapy, custody and economic situation too. access recommendations, social work and an expert for the purpose of giving a critique on 2. Inform your children of your budget and a Section 112 (social work) report. Call him ask them for their gift preferences in line for your next conference and for expert with the budget. When expectations are opinion on family matters. Services include clear on both sides, there is less room for counselling, mediation, assessment, disappointment. assessment critiques and workshops.</p>