Great! We need a new roof! - Page 2

[Azuralea]

Definitely replace the roof. It's just one of those things that will need to be done. I think you might be able to strike a good bargain, too. We recently had to have some house repairs done, and I was able to negotiate because there is just not a lot of work out there.

The travel question is harder. I think I would try to get a visa first for the sister to visit the U.S. and see if I could circumvent the problem altogether.

[velochic]

Thanks for all the replies.

The roof is a must. I know that and am not saying we would put that off. I was thinking that we could put off the trip until Christmas. Sounds like June is still probably better. The cheapest tickets we've been able to find so far would be right at $5000 for the 3 of us. Last time we went, we spent less than $3000 for tickets. At least tickets to Turkey are at an all-time high. I was thinking that they might be cheaper during the winter. Oh well.

[mammastar2]

Is the idea that if she stops believing in Santa that you won't have to buy Santa presents?

If I were her, I'd believe as long as possible then! I think it would be pretty rough to not only lose the belief in Santa but also have your parents doing a happy dance because they can cut their holiday shopping in half...

Dd is 7 and still fully believes. She knows some of her friends don't, but they're still a bit vague on the alternate explanation. One of her friends told her that strangers break into your home to bring you presents, and she didn't think that was very plausible.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by mammastar2

Is the idea that if she stops believing in Santa that you won't have to buy Santa presents?

No, it's that in Turkey there is no such thing as "Christmas Morning". There is no baking cookies, leaving them out with milk and carrots and waking in the morning with a Christmas tree and presents under the tree with that one special present from Santa.

You wake up in the morning and her uncle is off to work and the kids are off to school and the day is not special in any way. There is no magic. I don't want to deny that to her while she still believes in the magic.

When she was younger, we just celebrated earlier (like mid December). Now she knows what day it is, and it won't fly to have it earlier.

[mammastar2]

Oh I see - that makes sense!

She wouldn't buy the idea of Santa knowing she's going to Turkey, so coming early? Dd knows that different special things happen for her cousins in Europe - the tooth mouse comes instead of the tooth fairy, and Befana comes, on a different day than Santa...

[velochic]

Originally Posted by mammastar2

Oh I see - that makes sense!

She wouldn't buy the idea of Santa knowing she's going to Turkey, so coming early? Dd knows that different special things happen for her cousins in Europe - the tooth mouse comes instead of the tooth fairy, and Befana comes, on a different day than Santa...

Well imagine that today is Christmas Day. What did you do this morning? Do you have decorations up? A tree? A special meal planned? What are your friends and neighbors doing?

There is nothing special about Dec. 25th in Turkey. It is no more special than March 10th. Last time we were there at Christmas, we tried our best (dd was almost 5). We watched Polar Express the night before (only us... nobody else understood it), and TRIED to have a Christmas, but with business as usual, it just did.not.work. No tree, no presents, no family (well, SIL is a SAHM, so she was there).

It's hard to explain.