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Gift Giving Christmas Tradition

Each of my children give a gift to each family member because the best part of Christmas is giving. 


As a child, nobody asked me to give but my parents were pastors and I always saw my mom wrapping gifts for the whole church throughout Christmas Eve night and I just caught the spirit of giving, I guess. I started making and wrapping all kinds of presents for my siblings since I was about 7, and it carried on to family members and friends, then I added more and more church members over the years until I would end up wrapping gifts for every single church member I could think of and extras for new comers. On Christmas Morning when I got to church, I had about 3-4 XL paper bags of presents to give out to every church member in mind from a baby to the oldest person there... This tradition carried on even until after I got married.


So as far as Christmas traditions goes, this memory is what I wanted to pass down to my own children. I start with the family -- each kid buys a gift for each family member, including mummy and daddy, grandpa and grandma. So that's a lot of gifts. I literally have a spreadsheet to keep track of who gives what, status whether the gift has been delivered/ordered/arrived/purchased and where I've hidden each unwrapped gift because I get confused all the time.


We aren't very well to do so I bring them to a salvos or order online. And sometimes, when I see a good deal, even early on the year, I would grab it and hide it the whole year.


I pay for all the presents. They don't have an allowance. Also the presents don't cost much. Some are free - found them on the side of the road, or given free on Facebook marketplace. Mostly from thrift shops and garage sales, so they only cost a few dollars. The presents from kids to kids doesn't cost as much as the presents from mommy and daddy. They're usually less than $2, the more expensive ones $2-$5. Rarely will I get something $5-$8. It's usually something they like - suits their personality or something they need, something educational, and something that can be shared with other siblings, including the person that gave it to them. 


I have given things that I bought from thrift shops like a second hand skateboard for $3, a pair of skates for $4, Barbie for 50c each, a boardgame for $2, a storybook for $1, etc. I collect them throughout the year so I make sure that I get something they would appreciate and not just because it's cheap. Kids are kids. They are at that age where they would appreciate a second hand item just as much as a new one, especially if it's something they want. Also, as they grow up, they kind of get used to preloved items. It's become a norm in our family. You tend to overlook these things after a while and it doesn't cross your mind anymore.


Interestingly enough, there was a Christmas when I actually went ahead and got them certain items, one of which just so happened to be lying on the road. And when I got back and asked my eldest what she wanted to give my youngest, it was that exact item she described: a unicorn toy so I went to the car and grabbed it and she was dumbfounded like -- how'd you get it so fast? And this happens every now and then. Amazing. God knows our needs.


The more expensive presents are usually educational: science kits from Kmart, or Christian books and materials from a Christian Bookshop, that I might be using as part of the next school year but a bit more out of the norm and more fun. I don't mind paying more for those.


The kids also bring candy cane, sweets and goodies we collected throughout the year, in cute Christmas bags to church on Christmas Morning to give out to the kids in church.

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