The holiday season is rapidly approaching, whether you may like it or not. Each holiday season since Emma’s first, our Christmas tree has been filled underneath with toys and presents galore. I can show you pictures upon pictures from a total of four Christmases now where both my kids have not gone without. We have so many toys that we just recently went through and had boxes to donate. I am truly trying to teach my kids even at this early age that there are others boys and girls just like them that don’t have and are definitely in need of stuff, like toys for instance. Especially right now, after Hurricane Sandy occurred here locally only a few short weeks ago leaving many without homes, clothes, toys and so much more.
So after, we went through the toys and packaged them in boxes and bags, we were trying to figure out where we could donate them to help out those in need. I found a list of a few suitable charities, but then I also came across from a fellow blogger, Anna from My Life and Kids that struck a cord with me, read her original post here.
I bookmarked her post and a few days went by that were just absolutely crazy around here, but kept telling myself that I needed to look further into this. Then, my friend Bill, a fellow writer and blogger friend wrote an article about Alternative Christmas Gift Ideas, which reminded me that I needed to get my rear in gear on this.
So, finally today I went to my bookmarked page of Anna’s original post, I clicked on the link, printed the PDF with the labels and went to work. I also checked to see where the closest drop off was and found out that it was literally five minutes down the road from us. So, I picked out some perfectly good and like brand new stuffed animals my girls no longer even look at, got a shoe box out of the closet, used wrapping paper from last year to wrap the shoe box, affixed the label to the box, made the check out and then rubber banded the box closed.
As I was doing this my girls were right there and Emma even asked me what I was doing. I told her we were giving some of her toys that she no longer plays with to a little girl just like her that that may not have any toys. She got this serious look on her face and when I asked her what she was thinking she said, “But those are my toys.”
I told her, “Yes they were, but how would you feel if you had no toys and Santa couldn’t come to visit our home? You would be sad, right?”
She looked as though she was going to cry and told me, “Yes, I would cry mommy.”
“Well, this is how this little girl most likely feels and we want to put a smile on her face, right?”, I asked Emma.
“Yes, I want to make her smile mommy,” Emma finally answered.
The moral of the story is I think at three years old she understood this on some level from our above conversation and just wanted her to learn even at this young age that she should try to do for others. For this is truly what the holiday season is about and is not about getting all fancy presents for yourself, but about making others happy and trying to do with a little less to help those who are in need.
Charity starts at home and I want my kids to grow up knowing this. So to me this was so very important to share with them. Lily, who is a year younger, is still a bit young to really completely comprehend, but as I said earlier at almost 3 1/2, Emma after sitting with me while I put the box together and as I said having the conversation above seemed to have a better understanding of just this.
I truly love this idea and am willing to do this with my kids every year to give them a hands-on approach to giving just a small part of themselves back to other little kids who are in need.
If you are interested in donating and doing a shoe box too, please visit Operation Christmas here.
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Jane Marsh says
This is lovely, Janine. I struggle with the crassness and commercialism of Christmas every year and it's good to be reminded that not only one does not have to participate it, you can counter it. Thank you for posting, and for sharing the links.
JanineHuldie says
Thanks so much Jane and so true about the commercialism of it all and was so surprised when I dropped off the package that they weren't getting a better turn out. So sad that so many people truly just don't care.
Amy says
What a wonderful lesson to teach your little girls! This is a terrific idea. 🙂
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Amy and totally was so psyched to do this from the moment I saw it 🙂 🙂
Pete says
Wow, Janine, what a great post (and links). Sounds like you are doing a great job teaching your girls about the meaning of Christmas!
JanineHuldie says
Pete, thank you so much and truly don't want my kids not to grow up learning that it isn't all about them and gifts, because at this age I hear a lot of I want and I need, so it is important to me to balance that out.
Bill says
You are a doll, and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. You have such a good heart, and you are so caring and compassionate. I am honored to call you a friend, Janine! Thank you for the link, but more importantly, thank you for caring about the less fortunate, and teaching your girls a valuable lesson.
JanineHuldie says
Thanks for saying that Bill, but truly just so happy and honored to be friends with you, too 🙂 🙂
Stacy Harris says
what a great idea and I love how you are teaching your kids at such a young age. Sometimes the lessons we try to get our kids to understand might seem a little over there head, but I also think we underestimate what they are capable of understanding. Great post! 🙂
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Stacy and so true that we underestimate what young kids know or could process.
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Dianna and truly hope others to try to donate to this wonderful charity.
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Vikki and very true about learning from Emma and our youth, too 🙂
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Julie and so happy to hear that others do this too with their kids 🙂 🙂
JanineHuldie says
Thank you so very much Richard and I seriously am not perfect by any means, but just so want to teach my kids right from wrong. Hoping each day that I am doing an Ok job!!!
JanineHuldie says
Thank you so much Terrye and your dad's office plan with donations sounded incredible and would have loved to have seen all the different things that were donated, but truly sounded amazing. Funny when you said about your dad and sounds more like more my mom, lol 🙂 🙂
gigigirl says
What a wonderful idea and what a wonderful way to give your girls a sense of what real giving is…..not just the getting. Very proud of you. Thanks for helping make the world a little better and gentler. Love ya,,,
JanineHuldie says
Thanks so much Aunt Gloria and I am truly trying, even if it is just a small step 🙂 Love you, too!!
Melanie Chisnall says
Janine this is great! I wish more people would do this…it only takes a few minutes of time, and it makes such a difference to another child. Geoff and I started this year with something similar – we've never done it before. We "adopted" two children of age 6 (were given their names and ages) and also wrapped up two shoeboxes in Christmas paper. Then we filled it with what was on the list – toiletries, some sweets, a little t-shirt, a toy, some crayons, etc. It was called the Santa Shoebox Project. They also have Operation Shoebox here. I think it's a brilliant idea, but I LOVE your idea the most. Taking good quality things at home that you no longer use or need, and giving them as gifts. What a great idea, and what a great way to show your daughters how to give back and show love! :))))
JanineHuldie says
Melanie, I am so happy to hear that someone else does something similar and how wonderful that you and Geoff "adopt" two children and give them shoeboxes full of goodies. Thank you so much for sharing that and so happy to hear 🙂 🙂
JanineHuldie says
Thanks so much Amy and you are so very right on this. I appreciate your kind words and support more than you know 🙂 🙂