Comments on: Christmas Present Shopping – new style

By: Riley

Riley — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:58:31 +0000

I think giving to those in need is a great way to celebrate Christmas. Wonderful plan.

By: Santa Claus

Santa Claus — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:45:28 +0000

Boy this post hit home! I feel just as you do!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:28:00 +0000

My husband ends up with Oxfam unwrapped gifts for everything – birthdays, father’s day, Christmas. This year will be no different. Since our son was born we give something in his name as well as sending gifts in the shoebox appeal. I think it’s a great way to celebrate the holidays!

By: Jean-Luc Picard

Jean-Luc Picard — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:01:19 +0000

H! Sorry I haven’t commented recently, but my Google Reder did not show any contributions, as you had moved.

By: tiffany

tiffany — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:58:37 +0000

We make home made things for the adults and we ask for nothing in return. We have been getting the OXFAM donations from my in laws and their family for years.My mum is the one who usually spoils me

As for the kids. I am the same. I don’t want to buy a whole lot of stuff that will be broken or lost or both by Boxing Day. It’s so hard though because they are children and children love toys.
We were going to skip toys this year and take them away instead but it was not to be so I have the stress of what to get for them. Am procrastinating like mad.

The kids do a couple of things to teach them the gift of giving. The first is that they go through all of their toys and donate to St Vincents. They can’t be broken and must be in good condition, so they can either be given to someone or sold for money to help others.
The other thing we do is buy gifts for a child (a boy) of equal age to William (our son who died). This year we will be buying for a three year old. It teaches the kids so much but also connects them to others too.

By: www.christmasforallofus.info » Christmas Present Shopping - new style

www.christmasforallofus.info » Christmas Present Shopping - new style — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:10:37 +0000

[...] Miscellaneous-Mum added an interesting post today on Christmas Present Shopping – new style.Here’s a small reading:Because Christmas can be so fraught with tension and expectations; jealousy and desire. I’m the same. I always say, “Oh, don’t get me anything this year”, but I’m the first one under the tree, shaking the present to see what’s inside, … [...]

By: schmutzie

schmutzie — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:49:06 +0000

Tag! You're it!

By: Miscellaneous-Mum

Miscellaneous-Mum — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 01:42:07 +0000

WOW – I’m so totally inspired now. Such great stories….!!

I’ll post more on this in the weeks to come, I think!

By: Kelley

Kelley — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:25:22 +0000

We do this at work instead of Secret Santa. We all put in $10 and then pour over the catalogues to see what we can get then put pictures of them under the tree. Last year we had over a hundred people join in.

I make donations to the Autism associations on behalf of the adult members of our family and then give them a bottle of wine.

Kids get presents.

By: Megan over at Imaginif

Megan over at Imaginif — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 22:39:08 +0000

FANTASTIC. I have given the Oxfam unwrapped for years (World Vision also has a version). My family loves it. I have two big kids (25 and 23) who proudly display their gift cards year round.
When I got married in March, we gave my family and his family gifts – sort of like the bride price in reverse. I gave some of his family Oxfam Unwrapped. His 30 yr old brother cried while he hugged me tightly and said it is the most useful present he has ever received.
I think people either get “doing for others,” or not.
For our kids, it is a wonderful way to instill empathy and civic duty into them from an early age. Research supports that children with advanced empathy are least likely to grow into perpetrators of any sort. I listened to that research and I have grown two very nice big kids (let’s not talk about the little kids at the moment!!!!!!).
Great post Misc (and thanks for the link too).