Is there a cocktail you associate with the holidays?

Yes! It's called anything with alcohol in it for me! Xmas is fun when you are a kid who believes in Santa more than any other time, and equally as special for the parents of kids that age. But in some cases if you can't afford to buy your kids what they want, within reason. My parents always spent about 1000 limit on my sister and equal value on myself.  We would ask for one big gift which was usually something that cost around 400 or less. My mother has always gotten enjoyment from giving gifts more than getting any. It is what makes her happy. I used to think she was crazy until I reached around age 25. Then it all made sense that there is no joy greater than giving gifts to your kids , especially when they still believe in Santa, and the smiles and enjoyment it brings to them is priceless. I do feel bad for the parent who can't afford to spend even 5 or 600 on their child. Then they go to school and hear friends talking about getting a Playstation 4 and 5 games with it, and multiple other gifts that cost 1000s total and the kids whose parents or parent in most of these cases, only got 2 or 300 spent on them and they wanted a Playstation 4 too . Then feel bad for the parent when their kid asks why did my friend get what I asked Santa for when I behaved well all year and I didnt? Especially if they know their friend isn't well behaved since in a lot of cases like this the spoiled rotten kid doesn't behave well. If the parent put themselves in this position due to lack of education, drug use, laziness to work hard and get a good job, can't get a good job due to felonies, etc. Then is hard to feel bad for the parent and feel even worse for the kid.         

      This is why no matter how rich of poor you are it is important to raise your children to respect the value of a dollar and to make them aware of the true meaning of xmas NOT being just getting gits.

    I have a Psychology degree and give advice on this all of the time. It's crucial how you raise your kids from the time they're old enough to understand this concept, usually by age 5. And continue through age 18 or until they graduate high school. Because they can only depend on and/or blame you for any unhappy, ungrateful, resentful, envious, jealous, understanding, loving feeling, etc., until they are old enough to be an adult and get their first taste of the real world. Most likely, unless you are rich, your kid will start to see what real life is like as soon as they are old enough to get a job and drive. Then they will see friends who get a brand new car for their 16th Bday , while they are only able to borrow your car at times. And if raised to appreciate everything properly and realize money canto grow on trees and you have to work hard for success, then you will be in great shape.

    It's important to make your kid get even a part time job as soon as they are old enough so they can start to see the value of a dollar first hand and if you raised them properly then they will love you just the same no matter how much money you can spend on them.

  But I have a soft spot for any parent who may not be able to afford college due to having a child in their late teens or so.  Or if they made a mistake hanging out with the wrong crowd at some point and either got addicted to drugs, or made any kind of one time mistake that landed them a felony record. And I mean those who learned from their mistake or mistakes, and already were raised the right way, never got into anymore trouble, has been 7 to 10 years or more, when employers aren't supposed to hang that over your head forever, and for just whatever reason no matter how hard they work and try,...Sometimes it's just one bad thing after another every time they're almost where they wanna be, but constantly have bad luck and constant setbacks like they're  cursed.  I know many people personally that fit the latter , and they just wanna give up on life. I say confidence and faith in yourself is key and you certainly won't ever get where you wanna be if you ever give up! Don't ever give up! I'm not a real religious person, but if you are then it makes it easier to keep faith and never give up. "This to shall pass", is one of my favorite quotes that anyone can believe in whether religious or not.    And bad luck does come in 3's, and then is usually followed by something positive.  But it's up to the individual and only the individual to WANT to never give up and to strive for what they consider a state of happiness. Once your kids are adults or if you have none, then it's time to concentrate on your own happiness and only you can decide what that is to you, and only you can make it happen f9r YOURSELF.  I tell addicts that can't ever quit and continue to relapse, that if you can't quit then it's because you don't truly want to for yourself.  Trying to quit for family or to not return to prison from a failed urine test , won't work. You have to want it for YOU! You can do any thing you set your mind to if you are willing to pay the price of hard work and sacrifice for it. Merry Christmas!!!!