Skip to content
Coffee and Inclusion
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Contact Me

Christmas is a magical time.  The stories, the lights, the excitement.  The wonder and awe.  I fondly recall my childhood holidays and that’s what I remember: the magic.  Recently, in the midst of the “making Christmas” chaos, I remembered that this doesn’t go away once you grow up.

I’ve always tried to stress the “giving” part of the holiday to my kids.  They are blessed to have a beautiful holiday every year (and I am blessed to be able to do this for them), and I want them to know that it’s not all about elves, pretty wrapping paper and sweet treats.  I think they are hearing me, but they are still so young; I figure that if they all get there by the time they are 10 years old, then I can consider it a success.

Since I was a teenager, I have made it a point to donate toys during the holidays so that everyone can have a chance to partake in the magic.  Beginning in high school (when I had my own money, from babysitting or my job), I would buy toys and take them to the fire station.  I always wished I could do more, but I did what I could, then would hope that the toys would bring smiles to someone, somewhere.

I still make an effort to continue this tradition, and now I get to involve my kids.  It’s a little tricky, navigating around the Santa tale, and I have to be careful in my responses to their questions.  “Why doesn’t Santa just bring gifts?”  They aren’t being sassy; they are just trying to wrap their little heads around it.  As briefly as possible, I explain to them that not all families can give gifts, like theirs can, so we’re being Santa’s helpers. They are ok with that response, for now at least, and they also enjoy shopping for others.  They were excited to help me wrap the gift we purchased to donate, and they couldn’t wait to place it under the tree at our church.  After dropping off our gift, Addie (my sweet seven year old) noticed several other tags hanging on the tree.  Each tag represents a Christmas wish; after careful consideration (you can just see the wheels turning in their little heads!), she began pulling the tags off the tree.  I quickly realized her intent, and had to gently tell her that we’d have to wait and see how many more gifts we could bring (I’m a bargain shopper, but unfortunately not that good!).  She was disappointed, but she understood, as she is learning about money and spending/saving.  The wheels were then spinning in my head, too, trying to figure out how I could reallocate what I’d already planned so we could pick up a few more wish items.

A few days later, as we were riding in the car, she asked if she could share her Christmas wish.  I fully expected to hear, again, about the iPod Touch she wants, or the American girl dolls (yes, plural!) she has an eye on,  or one of the other items on her list.  She is just seven, after all, and fully believes in Santa, but she does understand that Santa doesn’t bring everything on her list.  I never imagined that her response would be this:

“My Christmas wish is for everyone to have something to open on Christmas morning.”

Whoa.  No mention of anything for herself, no creative arguments about why a second grader needs an iPod Touch.  She was still thinking about those tags left hanging on the tree at church, about our conversation from a few days back.  I was stunned.  And so very, very proud.  She gets it.

The next day, I was telling my mom about what Addie had done and said, just in casual conversation.  I was surprised to later get a call from my mom, telling me that she and my dad wanted to help honor Ad’s Christmas wish by purchasing more gifts to donate (so, so awesome!!).  Just a couple days later, my dad and I dropped off two big bags of cheerfully wrapped gifts.  I wish I’d had a camera hidden to record Addie’s reaction when I told her of all of this.  She was so excited, and happy, to know how many kiddos would have something to open. Again, there was no mention of her own list, or the things she wants.  Just pure excitement, knowing that others would get to experience a happier holiday.  Her Christmas wish was coming true, right before her eyes.

I was reminded that the Christmas magic doesn’t end when you stop believing in Santa.  The magic of the holiday comes when you open your heart and care about others.  Her holiday will be even more special because she learned the importance of giving.  In all my hustling and bustling over the next few days, I can stop and quietly reflect on this magic; knowing that at least one of my kids is really listening to all the “wisdom” I try to impart on their little minds, to shape them into the “good” souls that I envision, is the best gift, ever.

Merry Christmas to all!  May the magic of the holidays touch your lives, as well.

Holiday PSA
Resolutions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Duck, Duck, New Site!
  • Sideline Advocacy
  • I Am Aware: Thoughts on Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Recent Comments

  • admin on Duck, Duck, New Site!
  • Lara Kretler on Duck, Duck, New Site!
  • admin on Sideline Advocacy

Archives

  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • November 2016
  • August 2016
  • May 2016
  • September 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • July 2012

Archives

  • November 2018 1
  • October 2018 2
  • September 2018 1
  • May 2018 1
  • March 2018 1
  • February 2018 1
  • January 2018 3
  • October 2017 2
  • August 2017 1
  • July 2017 3
  • June 2017 2
  • February 2017 2
  • January 2017 1
  • November 2016 2
  • August 2016 1
  • May 2016 2
  • September 2015 3
  • January 2015 2
  • December 2014 31
  • November 2014 30
  • October 2014 30
  • September 2014 31
  • August 2014 31
  • July 2014 31
  • June 2014 30
  • May 2014 31
  • April 2014 30
  • March 2014 31
  • February 2014 28
  • January 2014 31
  • December 2013 3
  • November 2013 2
  • October 2013 2
  • July 2013 2
  • June 2013 10
  • April 2013 2
  • March 2013 8
  • February 2013 3
  • January 2013 5
  • December 2012 3
  • July 2012 1

Contact Me

  • jen@coffeeandinclusion.com

Popular Tags

#BuddyWalk #InclusionMatters #momlife #TeamAlex Addie advocacy advocate Alex bedtime birthday blog Blogging Buddy Walk chaos Christmas church Columbus disability awareness Down syndrome Down syndrome awareness Down Syndrome Awareness Month family Fundraiser fundraising gratitude challenge holidays ice cream Inclusion kids kindness mom blogger Monday music parenting r-word Saturday schedule school soccer special needs summer Team Alex tired Weekend writer's block
©2018 Coffee and Inclusion.
Theme by Colorlib Powered by WordPress
  • Google+