Christmas Boundaries

I LOVE Christmas! I love the decorations, the baking smells, and thinking about how to make Christmas special for my family and friends.

There are many things that are great about Christmas but in our world today we also get swept up in the shopping of presents. Giving is a great thing to do and very much apart of the season but I think that you always have to keep a few reminders of the boundaries one should follow around the holiday.

First, we don't spoil our boys with gifts! They each get a stocking, this year it will hold a DVD, a clothing item, a small toy and a fruit. Yes a fruit because my hubby always remembers getting an orange in his stocking. They will get their one Santa gift and then a large gift from mom and dad. No giant pile of Christmas presents at our house. They get plenty from grandparents, great grandparents, and aunts and uncle that we have no need to over give in our house.

Second, this will be our first year picking a gift for a child that is in need and donating it. I have helped in other areas in the past when we can but this year it will be fun to get Monkey involved in picking out toys for another child that might not be as blessed as he will be this holiday. We will continue the tradition each year with each of our boys picking out at least one gift to giveaway.

Third, as a family we will go through the toys that the boys have and donate and/or sell what they chose to pass on to make room for the new toys. This not only helps with clutter and over stuffed closets and toy bins but it also gets more toys out to organizations that can pass them along to others in need.

I love the boundaries that we have set for our family at Christmas time! I have seen some great benefits in Monkey's behavior through this holiday season as well. My favorite conversation from Monkey so far was this:

Popa: Monkey what do you want for Christmas?
Monkey: Dino Destruction.
Popa: But that's what you are asking Santa for. What else do you want from grandma and me?
Monkey: I only want dino destruction. I can wait until next year for another toy.

What could a more could a mom ask for than a 4 year old that would be happy to get a $25 gift from Santa! I love that he isn't asking for more. That was over a week ago and still all he wants is that silly dino destruction which is bought and ready to be wrapped from Santa. I love that I can make my son's Christmas by buying one things. It isn't a mound of presents under the tree that he wants! It melts my heart. Now to start working on the giving part with him. I can't wait to see the success we have with that!