This Christmas season I want to challenge all my readers (and myself!) to change up your holiday gift guide a bit. Now, I am not saying to do away with the wish lists all together (your children would probably not like me very much, nor would mine!) but what I am saying is instead of spending a crazy amount of money this Christmas season, maybe consider this gift guide instead.
1. The Gift of time: This Christmas season, why not make Christmas last longer than just December 25th. Make it a season long thing.. Let the magic of Christmas fill your house for weeks, not just the day of. Wondering how to do you do this? Time. It’s as simple as that. So often I hear children say their absolute favorite day of the year is Christmas. Yes, I am sure that a big part of that is because of the presents under the tree. However, what I have observed over the years, in both my family and others, is that it’s often such a wonderful day because the parents put their phones down, they shut their computers, they get down on the floor and they really, whole-heartedly engage with their kids. They help build the new Lego sets, they help put together the new toys, and they read the book Santa left over and over again. They give their children time, with undivided and full attention. This Christmas, why not give them that kind of time all season long. Be present, instead of buying presents.
2: The gift of tradition: One of the ways you can give them the gift of time is by starting a new tradition for you to do together. This is something you can do for years to come, and something your children can one day pass along to their kids. One of the traditions we have started in our family is an early Christmas present. What this is, is a box filled with Christmas Pj’s, hot cocoa and marshmallows, popcorn, and a Christmas ornament (one that represents something special from the past year for the child). The reason we chose these particular things to be in their box, is because we give them this present on the Friday after Thanksgiving. On that Friday we put up our Christmas tree. After its all set up, our tradition is to watch Polar Express and eat popcorn and drink hot chocolate in their new Pjs. They also wear these Pj’s on Christmas Eve. I figure I want them have the Pj’s all season long rather then just wear them on Christmas Eve.
3. The gift of giving: This one often gets mushed together with giving other family members and friends gifts, which is nice and all.. but this year my hope is that families push beyond that. The gift of giving can really be stretched to be the gift of serving. By giving, I mean giving back, and serving others. There are so many ways of doing this, but a few examples are collecting warm jackets and hats and gloves for those in need. Going to a soup kitchen and serving a meal to the homeless. Collecting money to help the Salvation Army feed the hungry this Holiday season by volunteering to ring a bell and stand by a local “Red Kettle Campaign”. Going to a nursing home and singing Christmas carols. The possibilities are endless. There are so many in need. My husband and I have been trying to implement this in our children’s lives each Christmas as well. A few of the things we have done so far this year are giving to children in need. We did Operation Christmas Child (which I wrote about here: Operation Christmas Child ) and we also have each one of our children gather toys they are no longer using but are still in good shape and we donate them to those who are less fortunate. Believe it or not, my kids actually look forward to both of these things and ask to do it.
4. The gift of adventure: Each year we do something fun and spur of the moment (at least for the kids) during Christmas time. In the past we have told the kids to get their Pj’s on (as if they were gonna go to bed)and then we surprise them with getting in the car and heading out to see some pretty amazing Christmas light displays! The kids literally are giddy the whole time. To make it even more special, pack some hot cocoa in a thermos or baggies of popcorn and make a night out of it!! Other ideas are taking them on an unexpected sledding trip or on a train ride to the “North Pole” (we have done the polar express before, it was a ton of fun, but super pricey so we often opt for the free adventures and the kids love them just as much!). Just make it special and out of the norm! Again, it’s not about the money that’s spent, it’s about creating memories! The kids will remember it for years to come!
5. The gift of truth: This to me is the most important one since becoming a mom. As we all know, Christmas has become completely commercialized. And as much as I love all things Christmas, it does sadden me deeply to see how little Christ’s birth is even talked about anymore. Christ’s birth is Christmas. I want my kids to know why we celebrate Christmas and it’s not because of presents, Santa, lights, or candy. It’s because our Lord and Savor was born. I want my children to never lose sight of that. A few ideas on how to incorporate this is: reading the story of Christ’s birth in the Bible, getting an advent devotional book to read with the kids each day of December, visiting a live manger scene and then explaining it to them, talking to them about his birth, candle light services at church, church plays… just to name a few. It’s just making sure to keep Christ as the main part of Christmas. All the other stuff is just an added bonus.
When I think back to Christmas as a child, I don’t think about the plastic toys I got, in fact I don’t recall what I got (except one year, I remember I got an awesome double cassette stereo… oh boy did I just age myself or what? Well.. either way it was pretty amazing) but other than that I don’t remember a single toy! Crazy right? What I do remember is the adventure of going out and finding the perfect Christmas tree, hands down my favorite memories with my family. I also remember the warmth and peace of the Christmas Eve candle light service and going Christmas caroling at the local nursing home. When your children look back at their childhood Christmas’s they are going to remember you, their parent, and the memories you created with them. They wont remember if everything was checked off their Christmas list (if they do, well that’s a whole other post), but they will remember the traditions that were made. A plastic toy will last a few years.. if your lucky, but the memories last a life time.
I 100% agree with the PJ thing!! I don’t get why they’re given on Christmas Eve, I want them worn often! They’re so cute and cozy! Thanks for inspiring people to look into the spirit of Christmas! ❤
Thanks, Kate! I am sure you will doing many if not all these things with your boys! 🙂