Dear Santa: Kids These Days Have Lost Their Minds

I asked my four year old what she wanted for Christmas, and she said she wanted a “tablet” and a new “DS handheld game system.”  Aaaah…sure I am going to give my 4 year old a tablet.   My 10 year said she wanted a “a new laptop” and some cooking classes.  She can hold her breath waiting on that laptop.   Our six year old, bless her heart for being reasonable, said she wanted a new game for her DS and some Barbie toys. And our 19 year-old son man, let’s just say I already know whatever he’s ‘thinking’ that he is getting is very very expensive.

Although I want the kids to enjoy their Christmas, I will not be spending a small fortune trying to please them.  So while they will be getting some of what is on their lists, I’m going to spend most of my energy trying to make sure that the they have a memorable holiday experience.  That’s something that my mother had always done for my siblings and me….and it’s something that I plan to continue on with my kids.

But, I do think that I could do a better job of gift giving to my husband.  We normally skip giving each other gifts and focus on the kids.  But this year, I have been paying close attention to all of the things that he says he wants…but never gets (sacrifices) for the kids and me.   So I know just what to do this year to show the one that I love how special he is to me.

The first year that Lamar spent Christmas Day with my family, he was pleasantly surprised.  He thought he was going to my parent’s house for Christmas breakfast with my folks and siblings.  But what he got was a house full of people that included not only my immediate family, but my aunts, uncles, cousins, and close family friends.  On Christmas morning, we cook a huge Christmas breakfast, we enjoy each other’s company, we read the Bible to remind ourselves why we are celebrating Christmas, and we sing hymns and some Christmas songs…. And, oh yes….we exchange gifts too.  We have a true fellowship with each other until the early afternoon.  Lamar jokingly says we have ‘Church’ service on Christmas morning.

And that’s what I want my kids to want more than anything. I want them to be thankful to God for giving us his Son, I want them to look forward to the time we spend together during the holidays, and yes…I want them to have a little something off of their list.  But they have lost their minds if they think I’m spending thousands of dollars on toys and electronics.

 

BMWK – What do your kids want for Christmas?  Do they have very expensive gifts on their lists?  How does your family spend Christmas Day?

 

Disclosure:     This post is part of a series that is sponsored by Hallmark and the  Life is a Special Occasion  campaign.     All opinions and editorial content expressed are my own.