Special Lesson - Spirit of Giving

This holiday season has been extra special, as this is the first yeat that my son has really grasped and gotten into Christmas.

He is just old enough to understand what Christmas means. It has made this Christmas the best one yet... Lil man helped (literally) put up the Christmas tree with his Papa, decorated the tree, helped us to set up the nativities (yes, we have three. Two bear nativities and one traditional nativity. When we were done, lil man said, "We need to go buy another nativity!"). He also was a great helper with putting out the wooden Swiss Christmas choo-choo, stockings and lights. From a parent's perspective, it has been so much fun to talk about Christmas, explaining the significance of certain ornaments, decorations and everything.

Lil man's school has a Toys for Tots drive. This year we took this opportunity to teach lil man about the spirit of giving. We told him that not all little boys and girls have toys and that this Christmas he was going to give a little boy and girl a new toy. He was really excited and took a lot of pride in this idea of giving a child who "doesn't have a train, a train."

The day came to donate the toys. I was a little worried that he would suddenly change his mind and want to keep the toys (especially as one was a Thomas train - which he loves). But, he made us very proud. Without hesitation he donated a toy for a girl and a toy for a boy.

When he got home he told us that he gave a little boy and girl a toy. He said he did this because they didn't have any toys. It was a special moment - a good learning moment.

I feel proud as a parent that I was able to teach such a valuable lesson to my son.

The joy of winter through a child's eyes

All summer long (yes, summer), Lil man has been watching Frosty the Snowman, because what family does not watch Christmas specials all year long! He recently transitioned onto Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer (which we've been watching for months). He has taken a special liking to Bumble and also now equates snow to Christmas.



The other day we got our first few flakes of snow. When lil man learned of this, he immediately asked "Mommy, can we make a snowman?" Of course, there was no snow on the ground. He also kept saying "Bumble" as he thinks snow and Bumble go together. So instead, in a rare moment of craftiness, we made snowman out of marshmallows! Lil man had a blast using toothpicks to hold the body together and then smaller marshmallows for the arms and legs. I don't know if he had more fun making the snowmen or eating them! And papa got into it as well, putting my little snowman to shame. He made a HUGE snowman. Who knew that making marshmallow snowman would be such a fun family activity.



OK, now back to the snow... So the first snow came and when lil man found out, he was ecstatic!!! I told him when I picked him up from school. When we were walking out, snow was flying everywhere. Now, here is what was so sweet... I put my head down and tried to dodge the cold snow and lil man did the opposite. He looked up in the sky and directly into the snow - with the biggest grin I've ever seen. He was enjoying every moment of every flake touching his face. And he laughed and smiled. Only the joy a lil one could find from a simple, pure moment. It made me stop and think about life's pleasures.

The entire way home in the car, he talked about the snow - how it was covering the trees, cars and that he was going to make a snowman, snow train, etc. The excitement in his voice was inspiring and could even turn someone who prefers warmer weather, into a fan of the winter season.

The next day, lil man proudly put on his boots and talked about making snowmen and snow trains. When we got to school he ran to his teacher and said, "It snowed!!!" (though of course, she already knew this point, she played along). That night after we returned home, Papa did something very special. He and lil man put on their snow boots, snow pants, coats, scarves, gloves and hats - and they went outside. Of course it was dark, but that didn't stop these two. They got out the sled and Papa pulled lil man down the street to the end of the block. I could only imagine what the neighbors were thinking if they happened to look out at that moment. Two boys sledding in the dark. :) What a special time between a father and son.