On gift giving…
My first experience purchasing gifts for our children was far from a normal experience and, quite honestly, terrible.
We had two little boys join our home through foster care, and by Christmas time we were still trying to get to know each other.
I was facing Christmas purchases as an insecure mother who didn’t feel like a mother yet, and so badly wanted to do it right.
I have always been a sentimental gift-giver. I want it to be meaningful, I want it to hold purpose. I want there to be a connection. And so I carefully chose simple gifts that I felt were aligned with what I had noticed them enjoying in the four months they had been in our home.
Christmas Eve came, and my heart was heavy.
Heavy because I knew they would love to be spending Christmas somewhere else, with their mama, whom they missed so much.
Heavy because I didn’t know if I was doing anything right. I was brand new to this, and I knew that they had expectations of their own.
Christmas morning came, and so did a world of disappointment for everyone.
As it turned out, the gifts were all wrong; of course, the baby was too young to appreciate anything, and I felt like a fool-or perhaps a fraud?
I knew nothing of how to do Christmas, and it felt like a heavy weight I carried with me throughout that entire Christmas day.
So when the next year came, I was ready. By then, we felt like a real family, and I was ready to give it all another try.
The cinnamon rolls came out perfectly, and the squeals of delight made their welcome appearance as the paper was torn from the gifts. The joy was immense for this mama's heart.
It was a Christmas full of healing.
You see, when looking back, I understand even more what I was up against that first year with these boys. They had had years of Christmases that I had never been a part of, and what Christmas looked like to me was not what Christmas looked like to them.
I didn’t have the luxury of creating traditions from scratch.
But now, things are different. Those boys are celebrating Christmas with their mama (and we still get to celebrate with them too!), and I’m now creating traditions with my two little boys.
So when it comes to gifts, here is what I’ve found to be a helpful guide:
Something to read (always). Something to do. Something to wear.
We have always kept it around 3-4 gifts per child, with the exception of a stocking full of small toys and treats opened on Christmas Eve.
So here are some meaningful gifts that we’ve purchased this year and in past years:
Yoto Mini (a great option for kiddos 4-12)
And highly recommend something like this for easy storage of your Yoto cards
These Magnetic Blocks are so great for littles (and olders!)
This game is one I’m looking forward to giving this year
This is going to be a favorite this year for both of our boys!
And this is for our littlest!
I cannot recommend this chapter book highly enough! A GREAT option for a read-aloud!
This series was a favorite gift a few years ago!
My littlest is in love with these books, and they actually keep him busy for a few minutes. So yes, he’s getting another!
This series was one of the most loved gifts we’ve given, along with this sweet boxed set.
I always enjoy seeing what others are finding, so hopefully this can be an inspiration to those still hunting for the perfect gifts!
Would love to hear what you’ve found! Share below!
Many of these links are affiliate links, and I make a small commission if you purchase through them without additional cost to you. I’m so grateful for your support!