How is your Christmas shopping going? I have to admit I’m a little bit behind this year, but I still have a few days right?
No matter where you are in your gift journey, don’t be too hard on yourself. It seems that we spend a lot of time stressing about buying gifts, especially for our children.
As a parent, I have the desire to provide my child with all the things that he wants, but is that really necessary? Fortunately, it’s not.
I read something the other day about gift giving for children at Christmas that really stuck with me. Think back to your own childhood memories of Christmas morning. What do you remember? Did you get the very thing you had asked for that year? Did you play with your toys throughout the day?
I’m guessing that the actual items you received are mostly a blur, but there are other things you might remember. Perhaps the smell of a fireplace burning as snow falls outside. Or spending the day with family members who may not be around anymore. Either way, the important things aren’t the individual gifts we give, but the time we spend with the people we love.
So, as you shop around for that “perfect” gift, remember that it may not even be remembered in the next 5, 10, or 20 years. Our children remember the time we spend with them during the holidays and the love we show them throughout the whole year. Go ahead and get them that special item if you want, but don’t feel the need to buy all the things.
For more ideas on gift giving, check out our new podcast episode “Unwrapping the Meaning of Gifts with Children” featuring yours truly! Find our early childhood podcast “The Good Life in Early Life” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
