reason for the season

I have been facing some 'Mommy Guilt' for the last couple of days.  For a couple of reasons, we have decided that we're not 'really' getting the kids anything for Christmas.  One of those reasons being money (or shall I say the lack there of) and another reason being 'Really.. Do these kids need any more stuff?'

It has been really hard because I see all this stuff that the boys would absolutely love and there are a few things that come to mind that I would like them to have, not to mention the list of things I hear that their friends are getting.  However, we are going to hold strong.  I got them each a book and I hope to start a tradition that each year they get a book with a personal letter in it from Ben and I.  I love things that are more meaningful, so I hope I can stick to it for the next 20 years!  There is also one cute toy that I am thinking about getting for them to share (and it's less than $20, so score), but I am still not sure... Then they each are getting one thing from Santa (so Mr. Claus tells me).  Like I said, I felt bad, but even now looking at that list I think that is more than enough.  They will be getting things from grandparents, aunts, and uncles.. So I think they will have the 'stuff we don't REALLY need' covered.   

On top of lack of gifts, I have been talking to Parker a lot lately about kids that don't have any toys at all.  The first time I told him that some kids have no toys, he immediately looked like he was going to cry.  It was actually really cute, I'm cruel, I know!  Anyways, with the holidays coming (and Preston's first birthday just passed), I decided to go through our toys.  I have a couple of large bins in the basement that I have full of toys.  I put them down there with the intensions to rotate them out when the boys got bored with the ones that are upstairs.  However, that still hasn't happened.  So... I went though the basement bins to get out any 'special' toys or ones that I know we will play with again, the rest are being donated.  Parker came down and asked what I was doing.  I told him that I was going to give some of his old toys away to other kids that don't have many toys to play with... I was expecting a battle (or atleast a whine) from him, but all he said (and yes.. It made me tear up when he said it)

'That will make me feel so happy to make ofver (other) kids happy.'

(keep in mind.. he's 2 1/2)

Those magical little words made all of my 'Mommy Guilt' fade away, so thanks dude!

I wanted to share that with you to remind YOU that sometimes your child will get more joy out of making someone else happy, rather than opening the $100 gift that you stressed out to find for over a month. 

(And please understand, with that statement comes no judgement from me, just a reminder that this time of year is about a lot more than gifts received.)