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Last Updated on October 16, 2020 by ELLEASH
This post will be all about the Christmas spirit and how we can teach our children what the true meaning of Christmas really is.
” Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting “
Hey hey my lovely entrepreneurs
I hope you have been spending your well-deserved rest with your loved ones.
As Christmas has now passed, I thought it was time to reflect a little on what the spirit of Christmas actually means (to me).
With a young child at home, it can be hard not to become swept up in the craziness of Christmas.
However, it occurred to me, one late night, as I was trying to desperately find yet another unicorn gift our daughter, that maybe, it was time to have THE Christmas talk with her.
I mean, who hasn’t fallen into the spiral of buying stuff for the sake of buying stuff?
Not really wondering what ever happened to it, 2 days after the wrapping has been thrown away?
I admit that I have been there, and that night as I was scouring Amazon, desperately trying to find a unicorn dressing gown, (oh yes, I did! And she ABSOLUTELY loved it! She couldn’t get it on fast enough!) maybe I was overdoing it and what was I teaching my daughter about the spirit of Christmas?
I don’t want to sound moralistic, but personally, I want my daughter to grow up knowing that Christmas isn’t just about Santa, presents and the biggest and brightest lit Christmas tree.
I am not condoning, nor am I judging, people who think otherwise, I am just stating my opinion, and by no means am I being disrespectful.
After my unicorn slip-up, I had that little talk with C. about what Christmas really should be about. She may only be 5, but she took it much better than I thought she would!
After all, I was telling her that Christmas wasn’t just about Santa and gifts.
To put my pretty words into practice, just before Christmas, we went through her toys and I let her decide which ones she would like to donate to a local charity.
She put all the items in thesepink storage baskets, we had leftover from having redecorated her room. (Just for info, the baskets were brand new, so they had a fairly strong chemical smell to them. Best to leave them out before any use!)
It’s definitely not much, but letting her know that there are other children a lot less fortunate than her, and that by giving toys she may no longer play with, she is going to be helping bring that joy and spirit to other children.
And to me, that is what Christmas is all about.
The joy of giving and not feeling denied anything by not receiving something in return.
That is what brings me joy. And I want my daughter to feel joy and understand that it doesn’t have to come from something material.
As we near the end of 2019 and embark in a completely new decade, I truly hope that you have given joy around you!!
Elle Ash xo
