--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Christmas after Mom & Dad split up…" description: "\"The Christmas after Mom & Dad split up, they both went crazy buying us presents. Matt, Jonny, and I were showered with gifts at home and at Dads apartm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/susan-beth-pfeffer-9577_apartment_the-christmas-after-mom-dad-split-up-the_1958855.png" --- # The Christmas after Mom & Dad split up, they both went… ![“The Christmas after Mom & Dad split up, they both went crazy buying us presents. Matt, Jonny, and I were showered with gifts at home and at Dads apartment. I thought that was great. I was all in favor of my love being paid for with presents. This year all I got was a diary and a secondhand watch…” quote by Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/susan-beth-pfeffer-9577_apartment_the-christmas-after-mom-dad-split-up-the_1958855.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/susan-beth-pfeffer-9577_apartment_the-christmas-after-mom-dad-split-up-the_1958855.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/931/susan-beth-pfeffer-9577_apartment_the-christmas-after-mom-dad-split-up-the_1958855.png) > “The Christmas after Mom & Dad split up, they both went crazy buying us presents. Matt, Jonny, and I were showered with gifts at home and at Dads apartment. I thought that was great. I was all in favor of my love being paid for with presents. This year all I got was a diary and a secondhand watch. Okay, I know this is corny, but this really is what Christmas is all about.” [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christmas became a commercial exchange, losing its authentic emotional meaning. **In simple terms:** Christmas shifted to gift‑giving focus. Key Takeaway Rediscover non‑material ways to celebrate. Themes commercialism family tradition materialism Mood nostalgic thoughtful Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - holiday planning - gift‑giving alternatives - budgeting Key Concepts cultural critique sociology of holidays Questions to Reflect On - How can you honor the spirit without excess? - What non‑material traditions matter to you? A Different Perspective Material focus can eclipse deeper family bonds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apartment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apartment/) [Buying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying/) [Buying Presents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buying-presents-2805077/) [Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christmas/) [Corny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corny/) [Crazy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crazy/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Diaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/diaries/) [Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Okay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/okay/) [Paid Presents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid-presents-3222491/) [Presents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presents/) [Presents Matt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presents-matt-3222490/) [Really Christmas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-christmas-2532225/) [Splits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/splits/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I have a very big family and a lot of friends, and buying presents is one of my favorite things to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-wren-scott/i-have-a-very-big-family-and-a-lot-of-friends-and-buying-presents-is/) [L'Wren Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-wren-scott/) > [I just love buying myself presents. Is that a crime?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/i-just-love-buying-myself-presents-is-that-a-crime/) [Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/) > [I would say 'Gremlins,' 'Die Hard,' and 'Black Christmas' are all pretty good Christmas movies that aren't really about Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-roday/i-would-say-gremlins-die-hard-and-black-christmas-are-all-pretty-good/) [James Roday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-roday/) > [I throw a Christmas party at my house. It's not really a Christmas party, because I don't want to call it a Christmas party.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-clemons/i-throw-a-christmas-party-at-my-house-it-s-not-really-a-christmas-2/) [Clarence Clemons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-clemons/) > [I throw a Christmas party at my house. It's not really a Christmas party, because I don't want to call it a Christmas party.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/i-throw-a-christmas-party-at-my-house-it-s-not-really-a-christmas/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [Only now that I'm a mum can I fully understand the terrible pressure parents feel buying presents for their kids. My mum had four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-giedroyc/only-now-that-i-m-a-mum-can-i-fully-understand-the-terrible-pressure/) [Mel Giedroyc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-giedroyc/) > [Apparently, it makes me hard to shop for because I'm constantly buying myself presents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nish-kumar/apparently-it-makes-me-hard-to-shop-for-because-i-m-constantly-buying/) [Nish Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nish-kumar/) > [Presents are made for the pleasure of who gives them, not the merits of who receives them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/presents-are-made-for-the-pleasure-of-who-gives-them-not-the-merits/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [My little girl, Anja, is really excited. We had a baby shower yesterday and she took the presents from everyone for me and was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandra-ambrosio/my-little-girl-anja-is-really-excited-we-had-a-baby-shower-yesterday/) [Alessandra Ambrosio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandra-ambrosio/) > [I see film roles as lovely presents that come along now and again. I feel really lucky and say thank you very much. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gambon/i-see-film-roles-as-lovely-presents-that-come-along-now-and-again-i/) [Michael Gambon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gambon/) > [“We all have something to give, in different gracious forms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-all-have-something-to-give-in-different-gracious-forms/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [If there's one thing I've always taken care of with my work, it's that it's never an advertisement for anything other than the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jr/if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-always-taken-care-of-with-my-work-it-s-that/) [JR](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jr/) > [There are those people when you're in their presents, the world seems to stand still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bulumko-pantsi/there-are-those-people-when-you-re-in-their-presents-the-world-seems/) [Bulumko Pantsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bulumko-pantsi/) > [The center of all my enjoyments is the home wherein are my wife and children, and I have no wish to wander out from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/the-center-of-all-my-enjoyments-is-the-home-wherein-are-my-wife-and/) [Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-quintus-cincinnatus-lamar-ii/) > [All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/all-the-christmas-presents-in-the-world-are-worth-nothing-without-the/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) ## More by Susan Beth Pfeffer > [“I never really thought about how when I look at the moon it’s the same moon Shakespeare and Marie Antoinette and George Washington and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/i-never-really-thought-about-how-when-i-look-at-the-moon-it-s-the/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Great, the worlds coming to an end and we're fixing it with Band-Aids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/great-the-worlds-coming-to-an-end-and-we-re-fixing-it-with-band-aids/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Maybe I'm wrong," Mom said. "Maybe the world really is coming to an end." "Should I try Fox News?" I asked. Mom shuddered. "We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/maybe-i-m-wrong-mom-said-maybe-the-world-really-is-coming-to-an-end/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [“This past year I grew up to know hunger, grief, darkness, fear. I began to understand how lonely you can feel even when all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/this-past-year-i-grew-up-to-know-hunger-grief-darkness-fear-i-began/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [But it's our curse and our blessing to remember the past and to know there's a future. —Charlie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/but-it-s-our-curse-and-our-blessing-to-remember-the-past-and-to-know/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Nothing good happened to Romeo or Juliet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/nothing-good-happened-to-romeo-or-juliet/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Matt looked up kids from his high school class. Only three were listed as dead, but a bunch were listed as missing/presumed dead. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/matt-looked-up-kids-from-his-high-school-class-only-three-were-listed/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Even the rats are drowning,' Alex said. Nah,' Kevin said. 'They've been taking swimming lessons at the Y.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/even-the-rats-are-drowning-alex-said-nah-kevin-said-they-ve-been/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [What about desserts?" I asked. "If the world comes to an end, I'm going to want cookies." "We're all going to want cookies if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/what-about-desserts-i-asked-if-the-world-comes-to-an-end-i-m-going-to/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [“It’s amazing. I never used to like red cabbage, but now when I get only a teaspoon of it, it’s all I can think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/it-s-amazing-i-never-used-to-like-red-cabbage-but-now-when-i-get-only/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [I wonder if I'll ever have to decide which is worse, life as we're living or no life at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/i-wonder-if-i-ll-ever-have-to-decide-which-is-worse-life-as-we-re/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [“I wondered how many people had sung "By the dawn's early light' yesterday and were dead today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/i-wondered-how-many-people-had-sung-by-the-dawn-s-early-light/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [Sometimes the rules don't work. Sometimes the rules cause the anarchy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/sometimes-the-rules-don-t-work-sometimes-the-rules-cause-the-anarchy/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [“Every day when I go to sleep I think what a jerk I was to have felt sorry for myself the day before. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-beth-pfeffer/every-day-when-i-go-to-sleep-i-think-what-a-jerk-i-was-to-have-felt/) [Susan Beth Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-beth-pfeffer/) > [...when I came back, I found Mom sobbing at the kitchen table...Then I asked her what had happened. 'Nothing,'she said. 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