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Gifted Parenting - Parenting a Gifted Child

 
Chronicling my journey as the mother of a gifted child.

What's your yearly Christmas tradition?

November 26th 2007 02:12
Family traditions are a great way of building lasting memories and sharing bonding moments with our loved ones. When I was young my parents would buy us new clothes to wear on Christmas day and invite family and friends over for lunch. The table was filled with all sorts of delicious entrees with heaveny desserts afterwards.

When my daughter was 4 years old, I thought of having our own Christmas tradition. I wanted something that would be both fun and memorable while helpiing impart important lessons to my child. It was then that I thought of volunteering to become bell ringers for the Salvation Army. So each year, since 2004, during the Christmas season, we don on our Salvation Army aprons and ring the bells in order to seek donations for the less privileged. My whole family joins in this tradition and I tell ya, it feels really good to do something special for others. My daughter is also learning the importance of compassion, caring and generosity.

There are many things we can contribute to our community to make it a safer and better place to live in and to help those that are less fortunate. We don't need to be rich in order to help, all we need is the willingness to do so.

Please share your own Christmas tradition with us by posting on the comment box, that way we can get more ideas on how to make Christmas time, and everyday, more meaningful.

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9 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Aimzster

November 26th 2007 02:36
Hope, that's an excellent and worthwile idea! And that's something I'll definitely think of doing when I have my own kids. At the moment though, we don't really have a Xmas tradition with my family - basically we just have dinner together, go to mass and open our Xmas presents at midnight. When I was younger, we used to sleep in the afternoon of Dec 24, and wake up at 11.30pm to go to mass and then stand in front of our houses to display fireworks (each house on the street gets to do a little firework display - this was in the Philippines when fireworks were still allowed), then eat with our family & friends, sleeping only at 2am. What I really want to pass on to my kids is the happy togetherness feeling of Xmas and not the materialistic presents-giving side of it.

Comment by Quick Fix

November 26th 2007 06:53
I don't really have Christmas tradition to speak of other than decorating the Christmas tree. I have a weakness of Christmas decorations and I always look forward to it.

Comment by What's Your Story?

November 26th 2007 06:55
We would always have Dec. 24 dinner at my grandparents' home -- my family, my cousins, my aunts and uncles. We'd kick off the evening at around 7 pm, then carry on till midnight for the opening of the gifts. In between we would play games. There'd be a raffle and games, and lots of chestnuts. We'd stay there till 1 to 2 am, then head back home. That's a tradition I've never ever broken.

Comment by Michaelie

November 26th 2007 08:32
I love your Christmas tradition, Hope! I'm sure the kids think it's fun, and you're instilling great values in them too.

All our extended family takes it in turns hosting Christmas lunch, where we have heaps of fun and eat too much. We have a BBQ by the way, or else the women would just end up slaving away in the kitchen. This way the men cook, and are happy doing it. Then we each take a scratchie from the scratchie tree. I never win but it's fun. And then all the adults play euchre - THAT is where I win!

Michaelie

Comment by Lilla

November 26th 2007 09:43
Hi Hope,

Our's is one small present each under the tree (if it comes down)...and $100 bill in the stocking of each child, which is held onto until Boxing day, when we head out to do our Christmas Shopping each year - taking care to 'double our money.'

With no extended family around to visit, or have visit, we spend Christmas day together on an annual family picnic; either on the beach, by a river, or lake.

In the space inbetween Christmas and New Year, we'll head for Coffs to visit one last surviving family member, my Dad and stepmother.

It is nice to see you again, and I hope you have a Very Happy Christmas.

Lilla ...

Comment by Bernadette

November 26th 2007 14:36
Hi Hope,

Preparing Christmas tree is one of our yearly Christmas tradition. Before my grandparents died, we never failed to visit our aunt's house for gift giving, sharing food, games, etc. We would always have delicious food on the table - ham, cheese, hot cocoa, salad, etc.

Bernadette

Comment by Anonymous

November 26th 2007 14:38
being alone...

Comment by Mr Nice Guy

November 26th 2007 21:56
Hey

Nice post.

The Nice Guy's always do the Santa thing - by leaving out carrots and water for the reindeers - listen to Bing Crosby on the gramaphone (yes gramaphone) and tell Christmas stories just prior to bedtime.

The kids (despite now being well into their teens) still love the whole ritual.

Besides that - we have always ensured that our three children have always put aside pocket money each year to donate gifts to children less fortunate than themselves and we always invite someone we know - (such as an elderly neighbour) who would otherwise be spending Christmas alone - join us for a big festive lunch with the extended Nice Guy clan.

It's not much - but its part of what we do.

MNG

Comment by Hope

November 28th 2007 00:21
Hey, thanks for sharing your thoughts on Christmas traditions. I was especially struck by what the Anonymous poster said.

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