Christmas List: from Santa or Mom and Dad
Recently, in one of my questions posted on instagram, someone asked how we organize what the kids put on their Santa list vs. the Mom and Dad list.
I NEVER considered financial situations effecting peers- I was a family that got the huge gift from santa. But when I was teaching and I saw families ask for assistance for $3 field trips and struggle at the holidays, I just wanted bring awareness to the situation.
I am not naïve enough to think that I am going to change the whole works by sharing this information, but I do believe I can change the world for a couple kids who are not put into this situation this year because their parents heard me out.
When someone modifies for Nolan not because I ask them to but because they learned how they could so they do, it feels good. While special needs and financial status may not be linked, caring for someone who is in a different situation than oneself JUST BECAUSE THEY LEARNED HOW TO means the world to the parent.
Not giving less
I am not mentioning this so families with money to give their children less. I am asking them to consider SANTA may not be able to provide something extravagant (read technology and huge ticket items). Parents with money to can provide this- and the kids know if their parents have money. NO NEED to give them less, but I asking you to consider moving the tags around so they can still have Chrismtas magic and their peers can too.
Christmas Shopping Gift List
Christmas time is full of gifts and business. By having a list and checking it twice, take some of the chaos out with this little gift guide! Make sure you have all the right gifts while keeping track so you don’t go overboard. Don’t forget anyone, stay on budget, and get all you need. You can also keep track of any details like a dish to pass, location, and more. See samples for ideas how to use different types of lines.
Have yourself an Organized Christmas
This is a digital product and no physical product will be sent.
Santa List
We do a couple little things from Santa. When I grew up Santa brought the one huge gift. When Alex, my husband, grew up, Santa brought EVERYTHING. When we got married we were struggling with what to do because our parents did it so differently.
Then, while teaching I saw something that said it was hard for a teacher to explain why Billy got an Xbox and Sam got socks from Santa. It is easy for parents to explain why they don’t have money (and for kids to understand and sympathize) but not why Santa doesn’t care as much about them as others. Therefore, in respect for all financial situations, it is suggested that Santa bring small things so that everyone gets something from Santa, and if the parents have more money they spoil you if they can or get you what they can.
Parents
I also feel that if we are teaching gift giving and being grateful, it would make sense to have the kids thank the parents for the many gifts, and the kids know the parents where thinking of them and picked the gifts for them special, rather than some guy gave them everything and isn’t there to thank later.
Credit
In the Reel I made, I mentioned “plus, I want credit over some big invisible guy who leaves.” This was
1) in addition to the reasons listed as to equalize between all financial situations
2) used in brevity to say: I want my kids to see me listening to their wants, considering them when shopping, getting them something I think they will love, and when they wrap their hands around MY neck saying thank you I am getting the best gift of Christmas, the gift of giving. I want them to see the process and I want to feel the joy of giving and them witnessing it. I don’t want it to be all about the gifts (from a guy who leaves) but about the emotions we feel with giving and being cared for.
Basically
We basically have Santa bring some items they want /would like but smaller scale. We usually try to have Santa follow the Want, Do, Need, Wear, Learn, Read rule I made the gift guide.
Mom and dad provide a majority of the gifts, we also try to follow the Want, Do , Need, Wear, Learn, Read rule with a little extras, and the expensive items are usually included in that (the want usually, but in Nolan’s case sometimes it is the need-sensory) Technology can be a want, need, learn, or do–so there are ways to get big ticket items in as you need them.
Shop Parent Gift Wrapping
Wrapping vs. Leaving out
We have Santa Bags with the kid’s names on them. We leave the bags out and Santa refills those every year. There is no issues with handwriting, paper, getting caught etc. We find this system to work amazing as it helps keep the size down, the organization, and it is also economical and better for the environment.
Shop Santa Bags
