3/31/2023 0 Comments Bouncer walmart![]() ![]() Watching them explore is a gift not only for them but for me as well.The best Presidents' Day mattress sales of 2023 deserve their own spot on Mount Rushmore. By giving them opportunities to think outside of themselves, I hope I am connecting them to that magic and teaching them that there is joy in receiving, but that giving is even more powerful. Now, my kids are growing up with far more privilege than me. Call it Santa or a parent’s love – I still know there was magic involved. Growing up with financial uncertainty the other 364 days of the year, it was wonderful for me and my three siblings to see loads of presents under the tree on Christmas morning. I know when I was a kid my parents struggled to afford Christmas. It’s a gift for me to see my children give It is imperative to me that my children not only experience the joy of the holiday, but learn the fulfillment that can come when you bring joy to others. Those moments make me feel like I’m fighting an uphill battle, but they also reinforce the importance of this choice. Last year, my daughter was three and had a full meltdown at Walmart when she couldn’t buy her toys. It’s hard to take a kid down the toy aisle and encourage him to think beyond himself. Children, like adults, are naturally selfish. I hope they learn to empathize by considering what other kids their age want. Shopping for someone their age gives my kids a basic understanding of how things work. I’m always solicited by families whose children are the same age as my daughters and nephews – who are 4, 5 and 8. One of my favorite parts about this tradition is that everyone is included-even the kids. Now, when I feel that urge, I can connect with the people I love to make someone else’s holiday a little brighter. ![]() I’m not immune to the urge to indulge excessively during the holidays. This holiday is also a way to ward off consumerism. Working together, we can adopt into large families with many children. Since then, my extended family has shopped every year for those in need. ![]() Neither of us needed anything, so we decided that instead of shopping for each other, we would shop for people whose wants and needs were unmet. My husband and I enjoyed the experience so much that the next year we took my mom and siblings on the cruise. ‘Adopting’ a family became part of our Christmas tradition I knew I had stumbled upon a Christmas tradition I wanted to share. And on Christmas morning, I lit up when my kid opened one of his presents - and as I thought about the other kids, I shopped to open the bundle. I sang along to Christmas tunes while wrapping presents, my little girl watching from her bouncer. I smiled as I picked up a remote control car and extra batteries for the little ones, and a cozy blanket for their mother. I was trying to be selfless, but participating in the program made me happy every step of the way. Since then we have found similar programs by visiting nurses’ unions, and have removed the local “tree giving” tag. ![]() It was part of a program run by a homeless shelter in the city. So, instead of buying her a gift, my husband and I shopped for a local family in need. Plus, as the first grandchild on both sides, he had everything he needed and more. She was only 6 months old, and could barely sit, let alone open presents. I had a limited budget and more importantly, the belief that my daughter didn’t need tons of presents under the tree. I involve the kids in shopping so that they can find joy in giving.Įight years ago I was approaching my daughter’s first Christmas, stressing about the joy of the holidays. I try to choose a family that has children my age. The author’s baby during the holidaysCourtesy of Kelly BurchĮvery year, my family buys Christmas presents for a family in need. ![]()
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