Esther, YOU are not the only parent who cannot afford to take your kids away or do something expensive in this economy. So YOUR kids will NOT be looked at as nebs. Stop worrying about what other people think and stop chasing everyone else’s pockets, patterns, or priorities. Figure out what is right for you and your own family, relax and enjoy your kids. Ask them to think of creative things they can do without breaking the bank. If they are old enough give them a budget. If they are not old enough they will just be happy to spend time with you. Use the resources your community has. Go to the library, take them to museums, visit relatives you haven’t seen in a while, bake their favorite recipes together. Make Tatty his favorite dinner together. Play dress up with your old clothing you should have given away moons ago. Do some bikur cholim if they are old enough. Take them to the Y and go swimming. Find an indoor play gym. Go mall shopping and give them each a couple of dollars that they can each spend wisely and let them make a small purchase. Go to Build- a bear and if you can’t let each of them make their own bear, choose to build one bigger one for Tatty, Bobby or Zeidy or one you can give to a sick child in the hospital.
There are many creative things you can do with the kids without having to keep up with the Klein’s, Schwartz’s or anyone else. Make your own adventures like having an indoor picnic or painting and decorating the basement so that your kids will be excited to tell their friends about when they get back to school and that they will look forward to doing the next time vacation rolls around again. Don’t be surprised if other parents call you for advice next year.