Mom's Life

A Thought for the Season…

As the holiday season quickly approaches, our days seem to fly by faster while our lists continually grow longer and longer. There are decorations to hang, cards to send, food to make and gifts to buy. Parents, often times, find themselves up until the wee hours of the night, trying to finish all of the little odds and ends that tend to be forgotten until the very last minute. By the time January 2 nd comes along, we’re exhausted and thankful that the season has ended. Today, commercialism has jaded our views of the holidays, and we owe it to our kids to honor the true meanings of this special season and reinforce our traditions and beliefs.

What is the true meaning of the holidays? This is different for each person, but probably revolves around the family unit, being together, appreciating what we have, giving to others, and helping those who are less fortunate. How can we remember to focus on these important values? How do we teach these to our children when faced with stores websites, for example, that reward kids for making large holiday wish lists and giving the company their parents’ email addresses? As parents, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that we have to buy the best of everything for our kids. Here are some suggestions for parents of children ages 0-3 that focus on the real meaning of holidays:

• Take the time to talk with your children about each holiday - that this is a time that families come together; re-tell the story behind the holiday.
• When wrapping presents, enlist the help of your kids – they can stick a piece of tape, choose the paper or stick on the bow. Talk about who the present is for and why it was specially chosen. During the actual gift giving, ask your child to hand deliver each present to the recipient.
• Kids love to cook! Even little ones can help pour the stuffing mix or stir the mashed potatoes for the holiday dinner. Obviously, it’s faster and easier when adults do it, but this shows your child that he/she is an important part of the family and is included in the holiday preparations.
• Limit TV with commercials - they are specifically marketing to the toddler age group so that they beg for more and more toys.
• When choosing gifts for the little ones, sometimes the littlest things turn out to be the best. A new bath toy or a fresh box of crayons is enjoyed just as much and sometimes more than an expensive gadget or video.
• Allow the kids to help with the decorations. Paper chains, for example, can be made in any color and kids love to say, “Look what I made!”
• Involve the kids in honored family traditions or help to create new ones. For example, each year a child can choose one small addition to the decorations, which will be his/her job to put out each year.
• Go to the library together and pick out books that tell the story of the holidays. Cuddle up together at the end of the day and point to the pictures. Tell your child your family stories.
• Slow down! The best thing that parents can do for their children is be good role models. If we focus on buying the most expensive gifts, insist on perfection, overextend ourselves, and get so overwhelmed that we do more yelling and arguing instead of remembering our family values and traditions, our kids will follow in the wrong footsteps.

This year, share with your family the true meaning of the holidays. Take some time before the hustle and bustle to remember what your time-honored traditions and values are. This way, you can instill in your children the gratefulness, love, generosity, and sense of togetherness that the holidays really should be about. That’s what parenting is all about!

Alexandra Blumencranz is a Certified Parent Coach in Clearwater, Florida. She can be reached at 727-656-9971 or www.positiveparentcoaching.com.

Copywrite © Alexandra Blumencranz, 2006. All rights reserved.