The Joy of Giving

One of the things we try to teach our kids -- not only at Christmas, but during the year as well -- is the joy of giving. We started a tradition just after Harrison was born that the kids would pick out gifts for each other, which we let them exchange on Christmas Eve. We chose to let them open these gifts early so that they can focus more on what they have been given and the gifts aren't lost in the sea of other presents.

 

We used some time over Thanksgiving break to take the kids shopping for their gifts to each other. We generally give them each a little bit of a "budget" to spend. This year, both Harrison and Madeleine came out ready to leave with their own money in had to spend on each other. Melted my heart! I love that they were willing to spend their very hard earned money on gifts for their siblings. Maybe we are doing something right after all. :) We ended up telling them that we had money set aside for them to spend, but I love that they were both standing there will all the money that they had in the world ready to be generous with it.

 

It took awhile to pick out gifts. They are all very choosy when it comes to gifts for each other. They all want to give a gift that the other will LOVE.

 

{On a side note -- Madeleine picked out a gift for Charlotte that she knew Charlotte would love, but that Madeleine also really wanted too. When it came Harrison's turn, he chose the same gift for Madeleine. So sweet! He knows his sister well!}

 

In our process of shopping, we discovered $1 little rolls of paper, bows and tags at Target. So they each also chose their own wrapping paper and bows as well this year which excited them!

 

As soon as we got home {and changed into our jammies, of course} they started wrapping. Madeleine was first and she's gotten to be quite the wrapper. :) She did almost all of it herself this year -- I'm so proud of her!

 Harrison. Oh, this sweet boy. He was the most particular about how his gifts were wrapped. I never thought he took much notice of how gifts were wrapped, but he wanted his ribbon put on certain ways and he wanted certain tags. It's so sweet that he cared so much about how his gifts were wrapped and he wanted them to look a certain way.

 I helped Charlotte do most of hers but she was able to do the tags herself. And, my was she proud of those gifts under the tree!

This is probably my very favorite tradition that we do with the kids. While we give to others during the holiday season, we don't generally get to see them open those gifts. This lets the kids see someone they love, opening the special gift that is just from them and they get to see their face and excitement. When Christmas Eve rolls around, they are always more excited about seeing their gift being opened, than actually opening a gift themselves. And, that is just the way that it should be.