4 Gift Christmas Challenge – Want, Need, Wear & Read

Christmases in my house are very different from the Christmases I had as a child. My mother would shower us with gifts…too many gifts…too much money spent. As an adult, I didn’t know any other way, so when my children were young, I did the same thing. Dozens of gifts and hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars spent.

It wasn’t until the year after my divorce that I realized how crazy my holiday shopping had been. That first year…not only did my children get a dozen gifts from me…but they got a whole bunch from their dad….their grandmothers, their aunts and their uncles. All of a sudden, my kids were up to their ears in gifts! And the worst part is…if you asked them what they got for Christmas..they couldn’t even remember any of the gifts!

In 2011, I put a stop to the crazy holiday spending and told the kids that they would now receive only 4 items from me. Only 4. I fully expected a coup d’etat to take place…but guess what…they were cool with it. They didn’t even complain once! So now every Christmas, my kids get the 4 items you see listed below (plus, this Christmas Eve Gift!). And here’s what I’ve found…they are more grateful for the gifts they do get…they remember each gift and we get to spend more time together as a family instead of picking up wrapping paper!

I dare you to take the 4 Gift Christmas Challenge this year:

1.Something they want
2.Something they need
3.Something to wear
4.Something to read

I think you will be surprised at how well your children respond to this new kind of gift giving!

Spread the love