Drew Barrymore explains why she doesn't buy her kids Christmas presents

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By Nasima Khatun

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Drew Barrymore has recently divided the internet after she explained why she doesn't buy her kids any presents during the festive season.

During a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 47-year-old admitted that her two little girls, Olive, 10, and Frankie, eight, don't get gifts as other children do.

While many kids will be waking up to piles of plastic presents that will hold their interest for a day or two before becoming clutter in a toybox, Barrymore has a different approach to the holiday season.

However, that doesn't mean they don't get anything at all.

"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 explained.

"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!'", she continued. "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."

"I'm glad I do what I do," she said of her Christmas tradition.

The talk-show host also recalled the time that she did get her kids presents during the 2020 pandemic when traveling was restricted, but she said it "sucked."

Some fans applauded Barrymore for her unique perspective.

"That’s awesome! My husband is the same way. He doesn’t buy me gifts but he takes me places and I really do like it," wrote one Twitter user.

While another also agreed, writing: "I think this is brilliant."

However, not everyone was on board with it, with one social media user going as far as describing it as "strange."

wp-image-1263183411 size-large
Drew Barrymore isn't one for piles of meaningless presents. Credit: Sipa US / Alamy

Speaking of the holidays as a whole, the Charlie's Angels alum said she avoids getting into a specific routine whether it be with gift-giving or other traditions.

"[I try] to remember that one holiday won't be probably the same as one 10 years from now, that your life can dramatically change, and new people and new traditions can come into it," she explained. "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,'" she added.

The rest of the interview with ET saw Barrymore opening up about accepting love during the festive period after being celibate for the past six years.

"I kind of shuttered down for a while. I take breaks and then I'm like, 'You know what? I'm ready to try this again,'" she said. "I'm just sort of open to the idea again because I hibernate like a bear in my dating life. I will turn off the app. I will not have it in my world... You have on- and off-seasons. I feel like I'm having an on season."

And it seems as though she's found someone that matches what she's looking for.

"There's been a second and a third [date] with someone, which is a big deal," Barrymore said of the mystery man. "I feel like usually it's one and done because I see their behavior and I'm like, 'This is a non-negotiable. This is not a match.'"

The 47-year-old did offer some advice to others looking for love during the holidays, saying: "Somebody is gonna come in there and sweep you off your feet and then that time will be gone and you'll be living with somebody else.

"You need to enjoy the [single] time before that happens."

Featured Image Credit: Erik Pendzich / Alamy

Drew Barrymore explains why she doesn't buy her kids Christmas presents

vt-author-image

By Nasima Khatun

Article saved!Article saved!

Drew Barrymore has recently divided the internet after she explained why she doesn't buy her kids any presents during the festive season.

During a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, the 47-year-old admitted that her two little girls, Olive, 10, and Frankie, eight, don't get gifts as other children do.

While many kids will be waking up to piles of plastic presents that will hold their interest for a day or two before becoming clutter in a toybox, Barrymore has a different approach to the holiday season.

However, that doesn't mean they don't get anything at all.

"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 explained.

"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!'", she continued. "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."

"I'm glad I do what I do," she said of her Christmas tradition.

The talk-show host also recalled the time that she did get her kids presents during the 2020 pandemic when traveling was restricted, but she said it "sucked."

Some fans applauded Barrymore for her unique perspective.

"That’s awesome! My husband is the same way. He doesn’t buy me gifts but he takes me places and I really do like it," wrote one Twitter user.

While another also agreed, writing: "I think this is brilliant."

However, not everyone was on board with it, with one social media user going as far as describing it as "strange."

wp-image-1263183411 size-large
Drew Barrymore isn't one for piles of meaningless presents. Credit: Sipa US / Alamy

Speaking of the holidays as a whole, the Charlie's Angels alum said she avoids getting into a specific routine whether it be with gift-giving or other traditions.

"[I try] to remember that one holiday won't be probably the same as one 10 years from now, that your life can dramatically change, and new people and new traditions can come into it," she explained. "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,'" she added.

The rest of the interview with ET saw Barrymore opening up about accepting love during the festive period after being celibate for the past six years.

"I kind of shuttered down for a while. I take breaks and then I'm like, 'You know what? I'm ready to try this again,'" she said. "I'm just sort of open to the idea again because I hibernate like a bear in my dating life. I will turn off the app. I will not have it in my world... You have on- and off-seasons. I feel like I'm having an on season."

And it seems as though she's found someone that matches what she's looking for.

"There's been a second and a third [date] with someone, which is a big deal," Barrymore said of the mystery man. "I feel like usually it's one and done because I see their behavior and I'm like, 'This is a non-negotiable. This is not a match.'"

The 47-year-old did offer some advice to others looking for love during the holidays, saying: "Somebody is gonna come in there and sweep you off your feet and then that time will be gone and you'll be living with somebody else.

"You need to enjoy the [single] time before that happens."

Featured Image Credit: Erik Pendzich / Alamy