"I like looking at the holidays through a comedic, realistic lens of, we're gonna have a lot of different holiday stories," she said.
Christmas is here and people are gearing up for celebrations, gifts, and a good time with friends and family. But buying gifts can also be stressful. More so for parents, because young kids look forward to many things which can overwhelm the parents and leave them disappointed when they are not able to make their children happy. However, on Christmas morning, Drew Barrymore's kids won't be opening gifts beneath the tree.
The Charlie's Angels actress and talk show host has found a solution to avoid the crazy season last-minute Chrissy shop. The 47-year-old actress admitted in an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly that she believes in creating lasting memories rather than purchasing material presents for her daughters, Olive, 10, and Frankie, 8. “I always take them on a trip every Christmas. I don’t get them presents, which I think at their ages they don’t love, but I say, ‘I think we’ll remember the place and the photos and the experience, and that’s what I want to give you,’” Barrymore said.
She claimed that when the family takes a vacation, her children "don't complain about not liking what they get". She added, “They get plenty of things throughout the year, so I’m not like some weird, strict, cold mom who’s like, ‘You don’t get any gifts!’ I just feel like a better gift would be a life memory. I’d rather invest [in that than in] a doll house or something. It all evens out and it’s fine.” However, Barrymore did provide Christmas gifts during the pandemic, when travel restrictions were at an all-time high. She said, "I like looking at the holidays through a comedic, realistic lens of, ‘we're gonna have a lot of different holiday stories. What one do you want to keep going and build as a tradition?’ Rather than, 'this is my tradition and I'm stuck in it.'"
During her appearance on Demi Lovato's 4D podcast, Barrymore claims that she tells her kids that she's not there to be their friend even if she gives off "bestie" signals. "Like, I'm your parent, I'm not your friend," she said to Lovato. In addition, she talked about her mother, Jaid, who often blurred the lines between being a parent and a friend. The actor was forced to "relearn" what a parent-child interaction should be as a consequence. She said: “I didn’t have them [boundaries] growing up and when you’re a parent, you try to compensate with so much love and you’re almost afraid to get into the argument sometimes, you’re just trying to survive the day, so you let things slide and you’re like, ‘Oh, there should have been a boundary in that place probably a while ago, but I guess I’m only realizing that now.'”
Evidently, traveling can be more expensive for many people than purchasing presents. However, the underlying message conveyed by this story is that prioritizing experiences above material possessions may be just as enjoyable not more so—than doing so. Making memories with the ones who mean the most is more essential than adhering to the urge to spend money over the holidays. It's difficult not to feel as if giving Christmas gifts would somehow make the day feel more Christmassy. But it is true that the presence of a parent or a loved one is a priceless gift in and of itself, and simply being present may be all that is required to achieve that warm, lovely Christmas feeling.
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akSYiqEv2JQ
Cover Image Source: Getty Images
