I have over the years really tried to steer the gift giving for the children toward the more longer lasting things that will actually have an impact on their life and be appreciated much longer. I can not say this is an easy task. Our society is so into materialism. Buy, buy, buy. I will admit I fall into it too in the last minute rush. But each year I try to make a concerted effort to simplify and go for the experience instead of the stuff. I get caught up at the last minute and think "Oh my gosh! the kids are going to be disappointed. I better go get more stuff!"
I am DONE with the stuff. So gift givers take heed!
Any STUFF that enters the domain will be politely be received and the thank you given, then it will QUICKLY make it way OUT the door! We will sell stuff that can be sold to afford these same experiences I am speaking of or if that is not possible it will make its way to goodwill or some other such organization. Is that really what you want to happen to your gifts? Isn't the intention of giving a gift so the recipient will enjoy it and be thankful that it has entered their life? Not to be excited because they got something and then forget it to move onto the next thing never to remember it again? Too many kids get things like this. If it was hid right after they opened it or sometimes, at the latest, the next day, they would never miss it, never remember it. I know I always want what I give to be cherished forever.
We have too much stuff. We are not giving the kids the experiences they will appreciate and remember as they get older. They don't even remember what they got last birthday or Christmas. Don't you think that says something? It is the things we do and experience that make our life rich. Not the things we have. I will admit, there are some "things" that help to make up these experiences sometimes- books that are read to us, games we play together. I even think things that we truly need are good gifts - clothing and shoes for example. Some of the people I have envied the most have been our friends with very large families who didn't have a lot of money but what they did have they used for experiences. Things that made their life rich in living- skiing, kayaking, going to the lake, camping, hiking, travel, music lessons, art lessons, paint ball, volunteering, even farm work.
It gets to be the frugal time of the year for us and every year I am afraid that we won't be able to maintain the kids activities, and every year I am right. Inevitably something has to go. It may just be a trip I was planning that we cant do now, but sometimes it is something like art lessons, which it was this year for Amelia. So, to end this tirade, I humbly and politely request that all gift givers consider what it is they are gifting and request that they opt for an experiential gift such as piano lessons, dance lessons, art lessons, fencing lessons, summer camp, tickets to a play or ballet (which Ainslee absolutely loves!), baseball game, or any other activity that will make them a richer person for life. If you insist on a thing please consider what experience it will offer. will it be used often or will it just sit on a shelf never to be remembered again?
Food for thought.
Thank you.
