I love Christmas. I love the family gatherings, the cookies, the lights and most of all — I love the magic glimmer in children’s eyes as they anticipate the excitement of the holiday season.
When I think back to my favorite Christmas memories from years past, a few things stick out. Like the years my dad would get off from work early on Christmas Eve to take me to feed the animals at a live manger scene. Or listening to my older brother shake jingle bells while screaming, “Ho, ho, ho!” after I’d gone to bed on Christmas Eve night.
I was the youngest of four, so the entire family tried to keep the magic of Santa alive for me as long as possible. For their sake, I pretended to still believe years after I knew the truth.
Christmas “Stuff” and Memories
It’s hard for me to remember many of the gifts that I received. In fact, only two really stick out. The first was the red bed tent my brother gave me for Christmas when I was seven. I was always afraid to sleep at night and that bed tent made me feel so protected.
The second gift I remember receiving was a Swatch Phone for my room when I was 13. It had two receivers, which allowed me and one friend to talk to the same person at the same time. It was yellowish green, transparent and sleek. My remaining teenage years would have been much different without that stylish miracle that connected me to my friends.
My dad went absolutely crazy on Christmas. He had a Christmas savings account to which he would contribute all year. On Christmas morning, we could barely get into the family room to open our gifts. It was exciting and magical.
But other than the two gifts mentioned above, I honestly don’t remember much of the “stuff” that I received for Christmas. By contrast, I fondly remember every single family trip we ever took (from the age of five or so on).
Christmas Magic Without the Clutter
This year, Kirk and I are trying something a little different for Christmas. For our kids, I want to keep the magic and excitement alive that I experienced as a child — but I want to package it a little differently. We’re still going to buy a couple of gifts for our sons, but we’re going to primarily focus on experience – rather than material — gifts this year.
For example, we’re surprising our seven-year old with the soccer lessons he’s been asking for.
And remember back in August when I mentioned that we were going to try and plan a budget trip to a beach with the best seashells? We’ve decided to skip our emergency fund deposit this month and instead surprise the kids with early spring plane tickets to Sanibel Island, Florida.
Sure, we aren’t actually taking the trip until March, but the anticipation of a pending beach mini-vacation is one of the best ways to get through a blustery Ohio winter!
We’re excited to wrap up a paper airplane with mock plane tickets for the kids to open Christmas morning. I’m hoping it will be more memorable than any plastic thingamajiggers we could find to stuff their stockings.
Giving
We’ll also be trying to instill in our kids the importance of giving by participating in a few charitable programs such as the adopt-a-family program through my son’s Cub Scout Den. And the kids always love decorating homemade sugar cookies to give away as gifts to teachers and grandparents.
Creating Memories that Last
I’m not suggesting that you need to jet set off to an island to create an experience your kids will remember this Christmas. There are plenty of less expensive ways to give them a cherished experience that will only appreciate over time.
Heck, even if it turns out horribly, those are the memories that always seems to get funnier over time.
As an example, my parents and I still laugh about the time I convinced them to take me to see the movie “Gremlins” when I was eight. The move grossed me out so much that I ended up…well, tossing my cookies in the popcorn. We had to leave in the middle of the movie, but the story of me “puking in the popcorn” gets funnier each time it’s told!
Below are a few free or inexpensive experiences that your kids may enjoy:
- If you have snow where you live, go sledding.
- Build a snowman (again, only if you have snow!).
- Drive around and look at Christmas lights while sipping hot cocoa.
- Attend the Christmas Eve children’s service at your church.
- Go for a winter hike.
- Sign your child up for sports/music/dance/drama lessons.
- Wrap up family movie tickets with a few candy snacks (to sneak into the theater). Put the names of the movies the kids want to see in a hat and draw the winning movie.
- Go ice skating.
- Go caroling.
Again, these are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. No one knows your kids better than you!
How are you planning to celebrate the holidays with your family this year? Are you planning to minimize material gifts this year? If so, what are you planning instead?
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Loved reading this, Jenny. I can only think of two gifts that I received as a kid (aquarium on year and bike another year).
What a grand surprise for your boys!! Sun and the beach in March sound fantastic.
This year we are having a very (for us) unconventional Christmas. We won’t be at home with our family but have decided to go to Scotland for five days. We will visit some extended family but mostly it will be a nice getaway for us. My husband and I are gifting each other the trip and we will get one gift for our two year old.
Your Christmas plans sound amazing Rachel! I absolutely love that idea.
All of our family is here, so we didn’t want to travel over Christmas. It’s great that you have extended family somewhere amazing like Scotland. You and your family will have a wonderful time!
Yo Jenny!
Sounds like a fantastic plan. You are giving your kids great memories of growing up, they are lucky to have you. There will probably be times when they won’t see it now but will when they get older. For sure.
Thanks Derek!
It feels great to plan something like this. We’ve kept things pretty tight over the past year, so this will be a nice way to stop and enjoy some quality time together.
I hope your city got some more trash bags for you!
Sounds fun! We’re also doing a non-stuff holiday season. We’ve asked relatives to just take the boys places. They are still too young to have too many memories, so it’s just simple park days or the museum. I’ve also asked relatives for classes for me over gift cards.
Also, it’s funny you mention that you remember vacations over gifts because I’m the exact opposite. I rarely wanted to go where my family went on vacation, and we drove 90% of the time (even to the other end of the country), so I tried to block those times out. However, I remember most of the presents I have received on Christmas. I think it’s because I’m so picky that I remember when I got what I wanted versus when I didn’t lol.
Hi Megyn,
That’s great that your relatives are on board with your non-stuff holiday plans. That’s an area we’re still working on.
It’s interesting to hear that you remember the material gifts you received, but didn’t enjoy family trips. Thank you for telling me that! It will be helpful information for me as I tune in to whether my sons enjoy traveling over receiving material gifts.
My seven-year old has always wanted to fly on an airplane, so I’m hoping he’ll be excited for his very first flight!
You are one cool mom Jenny – I love that you’re going to give your kids experiences this Christmas, and what better than a trip to the seashell beach. Awesome.
Awe, thanks Steve.
Hopefully my kiddos feel the same!
what a great list and great suggestions Jenny! i definitely want to start our xmas’s out right and not get carried away with too much stuff!
Hey Marianne! Yes, starting out without all the excess will make your lives so much easier, believe me. It’s a little tricker to change a seven year old’s expectations!
I just checked out your new domain — congratulations on finding your new path. I’m subscribed by RSS.
Jenny that’s a great reminder about remembering experiences more than gifts. I too remember the times with my family more than the gifts. It’s great that you guys are focusing more on experience than gifts and I’m sure your children will appreciate it!
HI Jon! Yes, I’m hoping the boys will have fond memories of family trips and time together. Those are the things that matter anyways.
As you know, stuff is oftentimes a burden, but experiences enrich our lives.
What a fantastic idea, Jenny! I hope you and your family have a great Holiday season…please write a post telling us the reaction of your sons after the holidays!
Thanks Travis! I hope you and your family have a great holiday season as well.
I’ll definitely write about the kids’ reaction to the trip.
Jenny, you rock! You’ve articulated so beautifully what Christmas should be all about. Experiential riches over material wealth. I don’t remember anything I got last year for Christmas. What I do remember is getting shot in the back of the head with a rogue roman candle and a hilarious hike along the shores of Lake Huron
Thanks for helping me get into the Christmas spirit!
Thank you so much Josh!
It sounds like you had a memorable Christmas last year. Wow!
Excellent post chock full of do-able memories and worthwhile gifts. So glad you shared.
Thank you Winsomebella!
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