Neither Jared or I are ready to have Christmas by ourselves yet – just the four of us. I’m reliably told that we will know when the time is right, but for now we are more than happy to spend it with parents, siblings, nephews and nieces. I know it will be hard to move on from past family traditions and create some of our own, but there is such excitement in that too.
We haven’t properly started establishing our own traditions, but the message we want to try and clearly send to our children is: ‘Birthday’s are about you, Christmas is most definitely not about you’. Yes a few lovely gifts with lots of magic, but we want to really encourage the focus on others.
Of course I know there will be countless times in the future that they will ask, demand and want things, but I want to keep their expectations low, and save lots of money in the process. I remember my siblings and I sitting around our huge dinner table hacking four or five Argos catalogues apart – cutting, gluing, sticking, writing, knowing full well we would get nothing on the list. The fun was most definitely in the process – the dreaming, the wishing and the comparing.
Last year I decided to finish my Christmas shopping in November so I could concentrate on my ‘Do Good This Advent’ project, which I found made a huge difference to my enjoyment of the whole season. Christmas felt far more magical, but this year I wanted to get Winston on board. I’ve heard lots of families doing similar things, so I spoke to Win on Monday night and asked him to think of ways we could help people. This is what he came up with:
- Be kind to somebody we don’t know
- Pick flowers and give them to someone
- Buy some food for people
- Baking
- Give tomatoes
- Be kind to trees
- Give toys
- Drive someone to hospital
- Share toys
- Give a toy away
- Give t-shirts
- Give some money
- Give some string
- Sing to someone
- Be kind to shepherds
- Ask the builders to build houses for people that don’t have one
- Give bulbs
- Give someone a train
- Put some wood on the fire
- Crafts for people
The beauty of asking a three year old is that they don’t always think practically or logically. It will force us to be a little more creative, and I’m excited to get started on his sweet little list.
Any ideas for “Be kind to shepherds”, would be appreciated…
E xx
Hahaha brilliant. I’m doing this with Ethan and Megan, what a great idea to have them come up with it. Our theme for Christmas is the same, but you said it so eloquently and I waffled on in about 10 paragraphs last week pahaha. I love a child led service list, everything we hope for 😊 what about doing something nice for a local farmer (shepherd)? Or ask if you can help on the farm for free one morning /afternoon?! X
Thanks M! I’m starting to try and think of ways to fulfil the random ones. I only have three presents left to buy – ruddy wahooooooo!!!! xx
Aww I love his list. ‘Give some string’ haha love it.
Not sure how to beckons to shepherds – maybe just give a doggy biscuit to a German Shepherd? Haha Have fun completing your list x
Thanks Liann! We’ll see what ‘give some string’ can become! I’m pretty sure he was just looking around the room and saying random things! x
Maybe you need to find some sheep to feed to give the shepherd a well-earned five minute break? I’m not ready to spend Christmas as a family of four, either. We always go to my parents’ house and so do my brothers. Christmas is all about family, and extended family, to me. It’s a family joke that my sole ambition in life is never to cook Christmas dinner 🙂
Rachel – I think that is wise ambition! I might join with that one 😉 xx
This made me so happy! How cute and considerate is W?! I even read the list to Brian, he loved it.
Haha! So cute! I need to make a plan to make it happen xx
Oh Esther that photo is darling and your true meaning of Christmas and sharing it with your little ones is perfect. I couldn’t agree more. My kids get one big present and a few stocking but we try to do charity events and help those in need and focus on family and those that help us through the year. I don’t think you always have to have your own Christmas if I had my way I would go to my parents forever for the holidays with my kids. Enjoy it darling. Thank you ever so much for linking up to Share With Me. I hope to see you again tomorrow for another great round! #sharewithme
That sounds lovely Jenny. I think it is so important to keep things focussed. Family is the best! I wonder if I’ll ever stop going to my parents – haha! We’ll see! xx
What a wonderful and thoughtful list. We have a shepherd in Farmer Nick, perhaps he could come and be a farm helper one day! #savouringtheseason
Great idea! He would love that! xx
Ahh what a lovely and thoughtful list here hun. I love it. Popping over from #savouringtheseason
Haha Jenny! I love that you have commented on this twice! 😉 xx
Such a lovely idea. We have a yearly visit from the Kindness Elves who encourage us to do all sorts of lovely things for others. Advent is a big thought out season round here… we too want the children to learn it is not about getting getting getting. So hard when that is what the culture and the media seem to drum into them. We work hard to shift the focus too. I love your idea of Win’s little list. I’ll look forward to seeing how you get on! Thanks so much for linking up with #SavouringtheSeason