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I remember when I was a kid, my parents would give me a little money, and send me to the shops. My task was to choose presents for them.
It’s quite tricky for a child to get into the mind of an adult. You’re fairly sure they like chocolate, and positive they’d be happy with a bottle of wine (judging by their enthusiasm for the stuff ), but the pre-packaged “gifts” in-store are confusing.
Do dads really like those multi-tool and handkerchief sets?
Do moms get excited over BRIGHT pink soap-and-facecloth baskets?
As a child, you want them to feel the same thrill you feel when you open your presents, but you don’t have the means to spoil them. You don’t want to get them a gift voucher, or a banknote in an envelope.
Some parents see Christmas as belonging to the children, and have no expectations of gifts themselves. Some buy themselves gifts, and then write “from [insert kid’s name here]”. Others are happy with home-made cookies or drawings, or the Christmas tree decorations made as school projects.
I got my dad cartoon character socks, a pipe for smoking, a book (which he took a year to read), a set of tapestry pictures of boats and, I kid you not, soap-on-a-rope.
Mum got rosemary mugs (as that was her name), a rock with semi-precious stones glued to it, a small bamboo plate with the mandatory “Mother” poem, and perfume samples. One year, during my wayward early teens, I spent the gift money on cigarettes, and shoplifted a gift instead. Man, that egg-shaped Father Christmas candle haunted me for years afterwards.
No matter what I got them, though, they loved everything (or were too full of, ahem, Christmas cheer/brandy to complain). Just as my children’s efforts thrill me.
We made wonderful memories through the experience of giving as well as receiving.
What are your kids doing for you this Christmas?
It’s quite tricky for a child to get into the mind of an adult. You’re fairly sure they like chocolate, and positive they’d be happy with a bottle of wine (judging by their enthusiasm for the stuff ), but the pre-packaged “gifts” in-store are confusing.
Do dads really like those multi-tool and handkerchief sets?
Do moms get excited over BRIGHT pink soap-and-facecloth baskets?
As a child, you want them to feel the same thrill you feel when you open your presents, but you don’t have the means to spoil them. You don’t want to get them a gift voucher, or a banknote in an envelope.
Some parents see Christmas as belonging to the children, and have no expectations of gifts themselves. Some buy themselves gifts, and then write “from [insert kid’s name here]”. Others are happy with home-made cookies or drawings, or the Christmas tree decorations made as school projects.
I got my dad cartoon character socks, a pipe for smoking, a book (which he took a year to read), a set of tapestry pictures of boats and, I kid you not, soap-on-a-rope.
Mum got rosemary mugs (as that was her name), a rock with semi-precious stones glued to it, a small bamboo plate with the mandatory “Mother” poem, and perfume samples. One year, during my wayward early teens, I spent the gift money on cigarettes, and shoplifted a gift instead. Man, that egg-shaped Father Christmas candle haunted me for years afterwards.
No matter what I got them, though, they loved everything (or were too full of, ahem, Christmas cheer/brandy to complain). Just as my children’s efforts thrill me.
We made wonderful memories through the experience of giving as well as receiving.
What are your kids doing for you this Christmas?
