Deeanne Gist - www.deeannegist.com - Inspirational Romance Author

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December 14, 2009

Christmas Traditions

Way back when the kids were small, I was at a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting and the speaker was giving ideas on how to take the "me" out of Christmas for your child. One of the things he suggested was a Christmas tradition that my family embraced and that--twenty years later--we are still doing today.

He called it Christmas Dates. First, Greg & I and each child made a Christmas list and we put the items in the order in which we wanted them. Then, Greg and I went on a "date" with each child. Each date included:

Going to a restaurant of his or her choosing
Shopping for their sibling and the parent they weren't with
Going to get a dessert of the child's choosing
Going home & wrapping the presents right then
Putting the presents under the tree right then

During dinner, we'd give the child a budget and look over the lists of the family members we were shopping for, then decide IN ADVANCE what we were going to buy them. This way, we knew EXACTLY what stores we were going to and what we were going to buy them. (No browsing stores. Just in and out!) For the rest of the dinner we'd just visit.

Because we had four kids (in four years), this was the ONLY one-on-one time Greg and I had with that child the entire year. And boy, did we cherish that time.

After dinner, we'd do our shopping. When we got to the checkout counter, we'd give the child the cash so that they could make the actual purchase. (Sometimes they had to do this while standing up in the shopping cart because they couldn't reach the cashier!) We also found that withholding dessert until the end kept the chid on-task during the shopping and made for a very pleasant way to end the evening!

Greg and I also made a pact that we would not do ANY shopping other than what the child was doing--even if what we needed was in the same store. We wanted to keep the focus on what the child was giving and not wear them out with extra errands or diminish what they were buying by purchasing something else ourselves.

The first year we did it, I wrapped white shelf paper onto four big, open-ended cardboard boxes. At the end of each box I put--in big block letters--FROM: CHILD'S NAME. They became known as our "from" boxes.

I then set the kids on the kitchen table with glue and markers and felt, etc. They spent hours decorating their "from" boxes. On Christmas Eve, we got the boxes out and they would each find the gifts under the tree that they were GIVING to their family member and put it in their "from" box.

On Christmas morning they took turns--as everyone watched--GIVING a present to each family member. We'd all watch what that family member received and then take a photo of the two. With the kids in their twenties now, I keep expecting to leave the "from" boxes in the attic. But every Christmas eve, they still go up there and bring them out and fill them with the gifts they brought.

And we still go on our dates. Though they've often already done their own shopping, it is a wonderful one-on-one time as we take each of them out to a restaurant of their choice. (And I have to say, their palates have matured and McDonald's is no longer their restaurant of choice. Ha!)

One of the other things that has matured is their Christmas lists. They now include not only the item, but the cost, the store in which it can be found (or the web link), a thumbnail picture and its rank (8 out of 10 stars, 4 out of 10 stars, etc.) The store clerks are very impressed when we come in and point to the item and say, "We'd like one of these." :) It is a fun time and a very special tradition and one that, I suspect, our children will do with their children.

What's a tradition that you do that is particularly special to you?

***

We heard back from three winners! Diane from Massachusetts, Brittany from Tennessee and Tiphy! Congrats, girls!!

If you would like a chance to WIN a free advance copy of my new romantic suspense, BEGUILED, leave a comment here on my blog between now (December 14) and Saturday (December 19). We will pick a winner at that time, then start all over again on Sunday.

For more opportunities to win, click on the "Dee's Circle of Friends" tab at the top and join in on the fun!

posted by Deeanne on 12/14/2009

Comments: 30

T. Heather said...

Wow! That's a really good idea! This year is the first year in abour four years that we've had a Christmas Tree! haha yeah I know that's a looong time but oh well I'm glad we are doing somthing this year. Our tree looks awesome! It's blue and silver. haha with lots of presents for the kids. Hope you guys have a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year. Tiphy(:

12/14/2009

Bekie said...

We put up our tree the day after Thanksgiving, but don't decorate it with ornaments until Christmas Eve. It started because we always had a toddler taking off the ornaments and hiding them around the house. I would soemtimes find ornaments a month after Christmas! Now all of the kids look forward to coming home from the Christmas Eve service and decorating!

12/14/2009

Amee said...

I think opening the presents is my favorite part of Christmas. It's fun seeing what everyone gets and the anticipation of using the gift soon. It's even better now that I have little nieces and nephews now!

12/14/2009

Sylvia M. said...

Oh, that tradition sounds very interesting!

12/14/2009

RadiantShari said...

Wow! That is such a wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing that Dee! My husband and I are trying to start our family now so I'm really grateful to have the idea in mind. We have started the tradition of giving a gift to Jesus by buying a goat, cow, chicken or something along those lines for children in Africa or other countries in need. I'd like to continue that tradition and allow our children to pick the gift to send.

12/14/2009

Ashlee said...

Ah, I love traditions, especially holiday ones! :)

12/14/2009

Fae said...

That sounds like a great idea and I'm sure your kids felt very special on their "dates". Our favorite tradition is Christmas Eve at my parents house. My sisters and I and our families all get together. We have a special meal and lots of goodies and then open some gifts in front of a roaring fire. I look forward to it every year.

12/14/2009

AP said...

I like the Christmas music the best, I think.

12/15/2009

Britt said...

I just responded. Oh boy!

12/15/2009

Lindsey said...

I Love Christmas!! I love giving my family and friends presents and getting to see there faces when they open them! But I hate waiting to give them. Lol!

12/15/2009

Candy said...

I love the idea of taking each kid out on a date. We may have to start that with our two girls. Sounds like lots of fun!

12/15/2009

Dorothy said...

We had "dates" with our two girls...but we didn't just do it at Christmas. I really like how you guys did the shopping. What a cool idea!

12/15/2009

Monica said...

Neat idea. This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love spending quality time with family and friends.

12/15/2009

Deb said...

This is a great Christmas tradition. We used to do this when we were kids, but now that we're all grown up, or appear to be, we just do the list and shop on our own. It's more about helping the parents buy for the other parent or sibling now. :)

12/15/2009

Caro said...

I have so many favorite traditions at Christmas time. Some we no longer do due to reasons out of my control but we always end up at my parents house for Christmas dinner. My mom is the best cook and her stuffing is to die for.

12/15/2009

Bernadine said...

What a beautiful Christmas tradition.

12/15/2009

Leah said...

Deep gratitude to you, Deeanne, for the time and hard work you put into creating this wonderful space for us all to come together and connect. It's a true honor that you bestow upon us by allowing us a glimpse into both your personal and professional life as a writer. :) P.S. -- The color combination of the burnt red and golden yellow is very pretty, as well.

12/15/2009

Judy Hawkins said...

When our children were small, we would start on Thanksgiving day and write blessings we had received during the year on slips of white paper. We put up our tree and added those slips of paper as decoration as well. Then on Christmas Eve we would take all the slips of paper off the tree and read them outloud. Then the children, as well as their parents, could see all God had done over the year! Sometimes the year had been difficult, but our spirits soared as we remembered all God HAD done!

12/16/2009

Deeanne Gist said...

Oh, I'm loving that, Judy!! All of these traditions ya'll are sharing sound so special!

12/16/2009

Boots Rockafella said...

awesome tradition....sorry it has been so long since i last visited and posted at your site...Renae and I have not read A Bride in the Bargain yet...i know....bad Boots....bad Boots....i dont like visiting the site and finding out stuff i dont want to know yet...and i know there are spoiler alerts before the message....but that just tempts me...LOL...i almost didnt post here cause i didnt think it would be right me not posting for so long and then i put one post and win the ARC...nope just wouldnt be right.. ;)

12/16/2009

Boots Rockafella said...

One tradition my family had as I grew up...and one I keep to this day with my family is the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible...NO presents are opened til this is done...that way the children remember the real reason for the season. I hope my grandkids will keep this tradition alive. YEAH I did it....a second post...LOL...trying to get back in the groove.

12/16/2009

bekie said...

The new format looks so good Dee!

12/16/2009

Patricia said...

Great Tradition. Please enter me for this weeks ARC. Thanks.

12/16/2009

Deeanne Gist said...

We've missed you, Boots. It's so good to hear from everyone! :)

12/16/2009

Britt said...

Thank you again for the copy. I'm thrilled to have been chosen!

12/17/2009

Wendi said...

Each year our children get to choose to purchase gifts for a charity of their choice. After Thanksgiving, we list the local organizations, and they are able to purchase what they would like for them. As parents, we had always purchased the gifts for them, and we would let them pick things out just as if the items were for themselves. This year, my oldest son has his own job and purchased his own gifts. When I made a comment about what he had purchased (if you bought non-brand names you could purchase more) he calmly told me, "This is what I would buy for myself, so this is what I will buy for them." I guess this tradition is one that has stuck with him. I love reading about your tradition. It sounds like many happy memories were made and are still being made. Merry Christmas!

12/17/2009