- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 3
-
Sparkle (0)
Back in September, I sat down with my boys and had a talk about Christmas. We talked about how Christmas is a celebration of love and family. The reason
for presents is to celebrate what we have to give and to share the love and
abundance we have.
So, we decided to aim for homemade or homegrown presents this year. Little
did I know that I was part of a fad! Buy Nothing or Make Something is all over the internet, including an offer to buy the "What would Jesus Buy" DVD for "Buy Nothing Christmas".
Here's our deal: My commitment is to spend whatever time necessary to work
on projects together and to buy the supplies. The boys can choose to play
rather than working on projects each afternoon or evening. For any presents
they decide to buy rather than make, I'll take them shopping, but they spend
their own money for half of what it costs.
Late September, we sat down and made two lists. One boy wrote down the names of all the people we would like to give presents. The other boy wrote down all the possible things we could make or do for presents.
Since then, we've been plugging away. We had a couple refresher lessons on
macrame, and made a trip to the craft store. Both boys learned needlepoint on
plastic canvas. The oldest boy learned cross-stitch. We have even finished
some projects!
December starts the baking season. A wonderful side benefit of this process
is that we can make all these goodies, and the boys understand that the stuff
will be boxed up for other people (thus avoiding their sugar highs and expanding
mom's waistline).
As for me, lest I be hypocritical, I've had to take a look at my own gifting
agenda. Fortunately, I can pack up some of our home-grown premium Angus beef or dip into my stock of tie-dyes. And, I can now macrame a bracelet an evening during movie
night.
The boys are having a great experience. We've spent a lot of quality time
together during a period when one of my boys has been having a tough time
otherwise. They aren't talking about what they want for Christmas,
they are talking about what they are giving! Unlike the hurried and harried
trips to the mall, as we work on projects, we talk about the people for whom we
are making them. Christmas IS about family, sharing and love.
So far, I would say this is shaping up to be the best Christmas ever.
Feliz Navidad!
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Cowboy Logic: Most people spend money they don't have to buy
things they don't need just to impress people they don't like
