So, this is my first post and of course it is about Christmas. Christmas was a success in our home this year, not because of the many American Girl Doll items under our tree for the girls, but because my girls learned the value of giving this year. It has always been important to me that they model compassion and kindness to others, but this year they actually took it to the next level... they each gave up something they really liked that was gently used and gave it to our local homeschool group, LCHEA, to distribute to local needy children. My oldest daughter, Scout (8), decided to give her 16" Princess Bike (Wow!), Elliott (Ellie, 3) decided to give her Princess Talking Wall Mirror, and Delaney (16 months) decided to give her Block Play Center.
See, it dawned on me that most of us moms talk to our children about Christmas being a time of giving, yet, we all (myself included) seem to focus on the getting part. What do I want Santa to bring me? I realized that I was sending a mixed message to my girls. I was telling them on one hand that giving of ourselves to others was the most important Christmas tradition, all the while asking them what they wanted Santa to bring them and having them write up their Christmas lists (well, the ones that can write anyway).
I not only encouraged them to give something to other little girls who weren't as fortunate this year, but I also encouraged making homemade gifts and crafts this year for grandparents and friends. The idea here being to give something from their heart, something they formed in their own minds and created with their own hands. The funny thing was that they were eager to do these things, loved the encouragement I gave them while making and doing the projects, and were excited to give the handmade gifts out to those they made them for.
I'm not sure what we will share with others next Christmas, but I do know one thing... it will be from the heart and it will be a great experience for my 3 chicks and me!
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