LMN,
Today my family's situation is much better financially and my mother has gone to the extreme of my growing up. She totally goes over board and our family Christmas includes her great grands. I'm the oldest of six - that gives you an idea of how large our family is - we rent a community center each year to have our party.
I know it is from guilt bought on by poverty in our earlier years! We have tried to get her to slow down and each year she says she is - that doesn't last long!
Several of my siblings and I just give her money - so she can start shopping for the next year! She is getting much older so it has to stop sooner or later!!
My hubby and I have scaled way back this year to a much simplier Christmas - I'm looking inward - and giving thanks to my constant, however slow, one step forward to my recovery and inner peace.
(((huggs and blessings for us all)))