Putting Some Thought into Your Children's Birthday Gifts
>From very early in my childhood, as soon as I learned to, I
loved to write. Stories, thoughts, letters - writing was a great
joy for me. On my ninth birthday I received a gift that I will
always remember. A friend of my mother's, whom I'd known from
birth, gave me a rather large book. The book was bound in dark
leather with a red trim, and had no writing on the outside. When
I opened it, there was nothing inside but blank lined pages. I
absolutely adored that gift, and even at that young age I
realized how much thought this woman put into it. She gave me
something that was uniquely special to me. I still have that
book; filled with everything from fictional stories to the
rambling thoughts of a girl as she struggled to reach adulthood.
And each time I look through this book, I remember how special
this woman made me feel that day. She told me, without words,
that my writing was important.
As parents we know that the closer our children's birthdays get,
the more hints and outright pleas we hear for this gift or that
gift; usually things that are popular with everyone else their
age. This is normal - and it's also normal for you to buy them
at least some of the things that they are asking for when their
birthday comes around. It is important, however, that we don't
sell our children short when it comes to what they truly want.
Young children rarely ever march up to us and state that they
would like to be recognized for their uniqueness, and we usually
only hear this from our teenagers when they are angry at the
limits we are imposing on them. But it is innate in all humans,
no matter what age, to want to be acknowledged for our special
qualities, talents, and interests. Realizing this about your
children can help you find them one or two gifts, along with the
latest popular things, that show them that you know who they are
and what makes them special.
The child who shows a special interest in nature will love being
presented with a book on identifying different types of local
plants and animals. Not only did you choose a gift that your
child will really use and enjoy, you've also just told him that
you care about what he is interested in. That matters to your
child, whether he expresses this to you or not.
Giving your children gifts that say "I appreciate who you are"
will not only help build a stronger bond between you, but will
also teach them to respect themselves and their uniqueness. It
may not happen right away, but one day your adult children may
just surprise you by saying, "I remember, and thank you".