Inching Closer to the Holidays

Posted December 13th, 2009 by KellBell

It’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving was already two weeks ago and we’re now less than two weeks away from Christmas. With each passing year it seems as if the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas grows shorter and shorter. With each passing year it seems as if Christmas is becoming more and more stressful.

This year we’re trying to find ways for Jeremy to enjoy the joys of Christmas that only a kid can really have, while bringing Christmas back to what it should really be about (at least to us). Yes there will still be Santa, presents, and other holiday fun, but there will be more. We’re trying to sprinkle in lessons about helping those that are in need and understanding that the spirit of Christmas isn’t about what you get, but more about spending the time with those you love.

It’s a hard lesson to teach an 8 year old. Like so many other kids his age, he is more excited about what he might get for Christmas and is less concerned about those that may not get anything this year. But I can’t fault him for that. He is, after all, only 8 and not quite ready for serious life lessons like this (nor should he be!). Don’t get me wrong, I have every intention of having Jeremy be the kid he is and enjoy all of those wonders of the holidays, but this year we’re planting the seed for what we hope turns into much more as he gets older. This year we are having Jeremy use his own money to buy something for kids who are in need. It’s nothing big or profound, but it is, at least, something. And I must say…I think it worked.

Last night we went out shopping for a few things to help get our Christmas stuff together and I gave Jeremy some very clear and simple instructions: Use $10 from the money he has earned for allowance to buy as many toys as he wanted for the Toys for Kids drive that the SRFD holds every year. He may have only picked out one toy that was $9.99, but his statement about the event is what was priceless. As we were standing in line to checkout he looked at me and said, “Mommy, I feel really good about the toy.” I admit I had to clarify what he meant since I wasn’t a 100% clear on what he was trying to say, but the fact that he verbalized that he felt good about his actions (and using his own money for the first time to do so) is what I was hoping for. I just want him to start realizing that it is more about what we give than what we get, and this was a good start.

Before I go, here are a few pics of our Holiday adventures to date…