Parenting Guru: It's Not the Bling, It's the Feeling that Matters This Holiday Season

Boston Irish



I would be embarrassed to admit how expensive some of the gifts are that I've received. It's not that I don't think I deserve to be spoiled (I'm SO worthy!), but my ambivalence comes from trying to not fall into the materialism which has overwhelmed the holidays. While I am very grateful for the various baubles and occasional trips that my husband has sprung on me over the years, the gifts that really stick with me are often simple, heartfelt, and bling-free. Here's a sampling:

1) the ornament with a picture of my twin neighbors, aged 4, complete with a scribbled 'signature' on the back. Even better than the gift was the unabashed glee with which they presented it to me. Priceless!

2) a framed photo of my Mom on her first Communion day. I smile every time I see her bedecked in her Sunday finest. A bonus: she's standing in front of my grandfather's house, which had been heretofore just a fuzzy memory for me. This gift is even more meaningful because I lost her three Christmases ago.

3) a "gift certificate" from my son offering to make me breakfast, do laundry, and in any other way be my manservant for a day. Now THAT was a treat!

4) my copy of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (so old it's on VHS). Pulling that out every year is a ritual that jumpstarts my holiday spirit and brings me back to my childhood.

5) My favorite holiday CD that includes all those fabulous instrumentals from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. Just hearing those piano keys twinkle puts me in the mood for the season, as I picture Snoopy and the gang dancing around the Christmast tree.

My mantra is that a gift from the heart is the gift that keeps on giving. So for this holiday season, consider putting away the credit card and put on your thinking cap. I'm sure you'll be able to come up with a simple gift that will have more meaning than you can possibly imagine for the ones you love.

What about you? What heartfelt gifts have stayed with you through the years?

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Boston Irish is actually Maureen O'Brien, a Shine Parenting Guru, mom of twins, and the founder of www.destinationparenting.com. Her musings can also be found on Galtime.com. She is passionate about all things parenting and brings humor and practical tips to families as a parenting coach.