Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. I like the sounds, smells, tastes, not to mention the contagious excitement that kids exude. What I don’t like is the shopping. That’s not to say I don’t enjoy picking out the perfect gift for my girls knowing they’ll be delighted. In fact, until I find that one gift, I’m not satisfied. But what I dislike is the pressure to spend money on things that most of the recipients really don’t need. That just makes me sound cranky, I know. And truthfully I’m gearing myself up to go out to shop for the few items I didn’t have time to get to sooner. When that’s over, I’ll probably feel a lot better about it all.
But it is hard to justify buying items for kids who have so much when we keep hearing reports of how many families are struggling this year. Tree sales are down because families can’t afford to buy the tree, let alone what they’d like to put under it for their children. Which is why, when I saw the viral video about the little boy who said “pooh” to books, rather than finding it amusing as the rest of the world undoubtedly does, I just felt a little dismayed. Above and beyond the fact that no preschooler should be upset about receiving books if books are already, hopefully, part of his daily life as the experts recommend, there’s the fact that gratitude must be taught to our children from the beginning. I’m sure this little boy was overwhelmed by the holiday–sensory overload is common on holidays, after all. But I hope that all the parents enjoying this video take a moment to think what they’ll do on Christmas if their child receives something they don’t like, from you, Santa or Grandma. Hopefully you won’t laugh, as the dad in the video did. Better to have a gentle comment ready so that your child learns what we’ve always been taught: it’s the thought that counts.
And while I don’t believe in guilting kids into gratitude (remember the starving children in China you were reminded about when you didn’t want to eat what was on your plate) I do think it’s an important life lesson for them to know that not everyone has the same blessings they do, and that we should live life with that “attitude of gratitude” slogan in our heads. Because after all, that is what the holiday season is supposed to be about.
May your holidays be all that you hope for. And good luck with your shopping plans–whatever is on your list.
