Ps for the person who doesn’t like Heifer International, they have non-animal gifts as well, such as the gift of water (wells). I also understand the concern whether the local environment can support animal husbandry, and hope it is done in a responsible way (gift of animals in locals that can support it, with animals suited for that environment). But seriously the people who are receiving the animals, animal protein and fat is such a low part of their diet, malnutrition is more of a concern than the saturated fat and cholesterol related diseases you mention.

Kids love getting mail. And though they didn’t always do the project I’d suggested, they happily made something else with the supplies.

They desperately needed furniture, and I’m complimenting the redesign with some elements that will also help the environment (new thermal curtains to help reduce our utility usage year round). And my younger son is repurposing the furniture I had in my room as a girl.

By definition, animals raised for food are exploited in a variety of ways. The animals shipped to developing countries are often subject to; water and food shortages, cruel procedures without painkillers, lack of veterinary care resulting in extended suffering as a result of illness or injury.

A large percentage of the families receiving animals from HI are struggling to provide for themselves and cannot ensure adequate living conditions, nutrition, and medical care for animals they have been given. HI provides some initial veterinary training to individuals and the initial vaccines. But, long term care for these animals and their offspring is up to the individuals.

To make matters worse, animal agriculture causes much more harm to the environment than plant-based agriculture. The fragile land in many of the regions HI is sending the animals cannot support animal agriculture. Although they say they encourage cut and carry feeding of the animals to avoid erosion, the reality is often quite different.

The consumption of animal products has been shown in reputable studies to contribute significantly to life-threatening diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and a variety of cancers. Regions that have adopted a diet with more animal products see an increase in these diseases. The remote communities supposedly served by HI have no way of dealing with the health consequences of joining the high-cholesterol world.

While it may seem humane and sustainable to provide just one or two dairy cows here or there, the long term consequences are an increased desire for animal products in local cultures leading to an increase in production. These communities may be able to absorb the additional water use of one or two cows, what happens when there are hundreds or thousands of dairy cows, each consuming 27 to 50 gallons of fresh water and producing tons of excrement? The heavy cost to animals, the environment and local economies is not figured into HI’s business practices.

That said, my family stopped exchanging Christmas gifts about 5 years ago, even for the kids. Instead we focus on experiences: sleeping in late, baking cookies, petting dogs at the animal shelter, serving food to the homeless, singing X-mas carols, going to the zoo to see the lights…the season is so much fun, no one misses the presents!

We ourselves give the kids three gifts: something they want, something they need, and a surprise. In combination with what they get from other relatives, it is probably still too much, but it’s such an easy way to think about things that we’ve kept it up. I’m always surprised by what my now 5-year-old son picks as his one want: this year, it was a toolbox that looked like Daddy’s for his homework supplies. Learning things that he values things like that is actually one of the reasons we keep giving gifts instead of going to a non-consumer Christmas. (That and I like getting credit for replacing clothing that they’ve outgrown and would have to be replaced anyway.)

My husband and I try to give each other at least one gift as well because it bothers the kids if we don’t have something to open. One year he gave me a Snickers bar. I still laugh about that one.

This year I have taken a deep breath and decided that even if they want to spend $150 on gifts for each member of my family, my family and I are only spending $50 on each of them. Not because I begrudge them the cash, I just don’t want the craziness and the unnecessary stuff.

But maybe learning about some of the other commenters’ approaches will help me finally find a successful argument to use with them.

Part of me wants to say “But wait, what are we teaching our kids if we get them “fake” new stuff? That they can just get new stuff all the time?” But I think when the time comes and they’re old enough, there will be a time and place to teach those lessons. For now, they just want something “cool” under the tree.