Christmas is supposed to be filled with love and happiness. It’s hard to spend the holiday season happy when you’re not able to get the gifts your children want. Sadly for so many people Christmas has become stressful, nerve-racking, and heart breaking.
Let’s face it, the holidays really have become materialistic for most of us. So how do you face the holiday season without the money to buy gifts? Here’s a few things you can do with your children this Christmas without money.
Time
There’s nothing more important than spending quality time with your children. This holiday season, stop stressing and focus on what’s important. Take time to drive around and look at the lights, play in the snow, or do anything you’re child chooses to do. The time that you spend with your child will mean more than any gift you can buy. When I think back to my childhood, yes there’s a few gifts I remember getting. However, for the most part I remember spending time with my parents, going to see family, and certain times in my life. I grew up poor, there was several holidays where time is all my parents had to offer. That time still hold a special place in my heart, I remember some conversations almost word for word, and my dads corny jokes.
I wouldn’t have traded them for anything in the world.
Talk
Whether you want to believe it or not, children know what’s going on. When mom and dad are stress due to their financial situation, children often pick up on that. Talk to them about what’s going on, most of the time they understand. I know it’s hard, but make up for it in other ways.
Teach your children the gift of giving.
There’s no better time than to teach your children how rewarding giving, and helping other is. Volunteer with them to help with activities going on in your area. This can be fun, and rewarding in so many different ways. There’s truly no better feeling than knowing you have made a difference in someone else’s life.
Get creative
Just because your wallet is suffering this holiday season doesn’t mean your family has to. Be creative, make you’re children something that comes from the heart. Make them a photo album of their lives since they were little, then on Christmas sit down and tell them all about the pictures you have placed in the book. We all love hearing stories about our childhood. Have you ever sat down and looked at old photos with your children? If they’re anything like mine, you’ll spend hours talking and laughing.
Be crafty, get their old baby blankets and sew them all together. Make a photo ornament for the Christmas tree. There’s so many other great activities to do with your children. Be creative, check out the internet it’s full of great holiday craft ideas.
Keep your head up
Don’t let your children see you with you head down. Keep your head up, let them know things are okay, and that gifts are not what the holiday season is all about. When children see you stress.
Get out of the house
Take part in activities going on in your area. Churches are a great place to visit during the holiday season. Visit plays, listen to Christmas carols, or ask your child what they want to do. Then go do it, keep yourself and your child busy, don’t focus or think about the negative things. Stay positive and busy. In the end teaching children the true meaning of Christmas is never a bad thing.
Honestly it just plain sucks that the holidays bring this type of stress to people. It’s hard enough to afford taking care of a family, much less coming up with extra money for Christmas presents.
The most important thing I can tell you is, keep your head up. I grew up with the best parents, in the best house they could provide, with more love than anyone could ever ask for. When it comes down to it, you’re children might be disappointed they don’t’ get Christmas gifts, but they will not carry those gifts into their adult years. However, spoiling them with love and attention is something they will carry with them into their adults years, and hopefully share with their children. In the end, it’s not the material gifts we remember it’s the loving thoughtful moments we remember.
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