Each year as Thanksgiving and Christmas season approach, I find myself counting my blessings. Blessings of health, family, temple covenants, my LDS faith, and yes, stuff.
However, as much I as a grateful for the material blessings in my life, I am also very aware that there are many who are less fortunate. Many who have so many fewer things than I do.
I am determined to help teach my children that material things are not as important as they may think, and really try to hit this idea home during the holiday season.
One way we try to teach our children this is by how we give presents. When my oldest daughter was 3 years old and the only grandchild on my side of the family, she was handed gifts from every direction. While I knew everyone, including my husband and I were well-meaning in these efforts, I realized that I wanted my children to cherish what they had and not be given everything they desire.
For the last 7 years, we have given each child 3 gifts at Christmas:
1- A Want
2-A Need
3-A Treasure
Although the wrapped gifts under our Christmas tree may look a little sparse compared to that of friends, my children have come to expect and support this tradition.
It's fabulous to see them writing out a "wish list" and thinking very carefully about what they want and need, instead of all the cool things they want that they saw in the local store ads.
Christmas morning is then spent unwrapping gifts for a short amount of time and then spending the rest of the time focusing of family and the true meaning of Christmas.
Yes, we still give them stuff, just in smaller, more meaningful doses.
Happy Fall and Thanksgiving!
No comments:
Post a Comment