When you have small kids everything is simplified. For example instead of saying we have X number of days until Santa arrives, we replace days with sleeps. The reds understand that in 9 more sleeps they will wake up and hopefully Santa will have brought them what they asked for. The one challenge I have is trying to get the reds to fully understand how fortunate they are, especially during these very harsh economic times.
Last Friday I took the oldest red to get some new jammies. As I drove up to the store I noticed all the uniformed men and women standing outside the doors and realized they were holding a Toy for Tots drive. What a perfect opportunity to try and teach a very important lesson about giving to others!!! As we walked up, the oldest red asked why they were all standing around with candy canes and in costumes. I explained to him that they were in their work uniforms and are collecting toys for boys and girls that might not get any for Christmas. Just then I thought...what if he asks me why Santa won't bring them toys...thankfully he didn't because I didn't have a prepared response for that.
We headed to the toy section, which thankfully had an entire aisle of toys priced just right. The first toy spotted was a train set (of course). The next toy we got was an overstuffed floppy teddy bear that was the perfect size for night time snuggles. We purchased our items and the oldest red insisted on being the one to put the toys in the bin. He proudly walked out the doors and dropped them in the bin. His reward was a candy cane. My reward was far greater than that. The lesson itself stuck with him and I know this because just yesterday he asked me if I knew the names of the kids that would get the toys we bought for them. That moment reminded me of a few lines from one of my favorite songs.....
And these are the moments,
I thank God that I'm alive.
And these are the moments,
I'll remember all my life.
I've found all I've Waited for,
And I could not ask for more.
Merry Christmas!
xoxo
Me
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