A Different Kind of Gift

I’m using my post this week to complain about the horrid commercialism of the holidays. No, no. It’s to celebrate finishing up my shopping and doing it all online because, damn, people are rude in stores this time of year.

Now that I’ve got my bah, humbug out of the way, I’ll get to my real point. I’m suggesting the best kind of gift we can give, if we’re fortunate enough to be able to do so. I’m not going to lie and say my kids didn’t get gifts for themselves–oh, yeah. I’m awesome at Christmas gifts, by the way.

But, I don’t like to miss an opportunity to truly give. Last year, my youngest daughter seemed a bit too caught up in the “I want it all, I want it now” attitude one sees in kids at Christmas. Especially children who have never known what it’s like to not have an obscene amount of stuff. (Don’t blame me–the grandparents are rabid about gifting.) So, she spent a weekend volunteering with us to clean used toys for underprivileged children.

And, let me tell you, that lesson stuck. She has spent the weekend cleaning out her toys, of her own volition, to donate this year. So, if you’re children are lucky enough, like mine, to enjoy bountiful holiday gifts, consider purchasing one of these gifts from IRC. The organization receives an A+ from charitywatch.org, so the gift gets to where it’s intended. You get a card to give the recipient and you both know someone’s life is better.

Either way, whatever you celebrate, I hope you have a happy, fulfilling holiday.