The Holiday Spirit - Shop Vs. Give

The spirit of holiday shopping is here.  Let’s grab our keys, our shopping lists and get out there and have some fun! 

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Shop til you drop as they say.

There’s doorbusters and aisle busters.  There’s Black Friday, Cyber Monday.  There's online shopping, window shopping, coupons, deals, BOGO’s and so much more.

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Somewhere in the wonderful Bing Crosby spirit of everything, we need to maintain our patience, our wit, our sanity, our budget, our friendly relations, and find the energy to get to all of our social engagements.

So how do we tackle the holiday shopping season with joy and finding time for family?

For grandparents, it’s a wonderful time of year to spend special moments with the grandchildren.  You may be a part time carer for your grandchildren or just seeking quality time together.  There are enough tasks and duties in the holiday season to share time and talents with the younger ones.

For instance….

Teacher’s Gifts.  Often, at school, there is an opportunity to make small drop off gifts for your grandchildren’s teachers.  Grandchildren would love the chance to do this task with their grandparents.  It’s quality time for a meaningful cause!

Picking Up Presents.  Take the grandkids with you on a limited shopping trip to pick up something specific.  This will give them a sense of accomplishment and joy at finding something special that has to be kept secret.  It may require some patience on your part, but it also ticks something off the list while giving the grandchildren a sense of the holiday shopping vibe.

Wrapping gifts with grandchildren.  What a great way to spend time with the young ones and tackle tasks.  Share this excellent holiday to-do with your most cherished people.  They will thank you for it!

Writing holiday cards together.  Pick up a couple good batches of holiday cards and get cracking on that list.  There is never an end to those people in our lives who should receive a holiday card.  The art of card writing is an excellent chance for children to get their writing practice in too, and look up to those they love (You!) all the while.

Wonderful, happy, joy, joy.… Oh, the weather outside is frightful…

Let’s switch gears for a moment to make an important mention of National Giving Tuesday.  

On Giving Tuesday, which falls on November 29th this year, we are asked to take just a few minutes from our busy busy lives to think of all of our favorite non-profit organizations, all of those who really do need something, a gift, this year.

When you survey the community around you, there are local food banks and excellent giving opportunities close at hand.  

Let’s challenge ourselves to think in “giving” terms for a moment.  If we spend $1000 on gifts during the holidays, why not consider giving 5% to a charity?  This would be equivalent to a $50 contribution to a worthy cause.  Maybe we want to stretch ourselves further and give 10% of our holiday spending or 20%.  There may be a very brave few who consider this entire thought process and say “You know, the heck with it, why didn’t this occur to me before?  I’m going to match dollar for dollar.  Whatever I spend on holiday gifts, I am spending the equal amount on my local charity!!!”  If this is you, I take off my hat, and say “Go forth!  Make someone’s day!”

We have a few loved charities of our own.  We send a portion of proceeds on each activity book to the Leukemia / Lymphoma Society.  They work tirelessley in furthering the best methods for treatments of blood cancers.  

Another important idea to please consider during the holiday season, but really and truly, all year around, is… Giving FOOD.

There are local food banks and food pantries in every town and community.  Families rely on these services to pick up the most basic of household necessities.  

We support the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.  Please consider donating to their Feed a Neighbor Program, and help feed someone immediately. 

And from all of us at Grandparent Merit Badges to all of you, your families and loved ones, we truly wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving!  

Enjoy this season for the real treasures it holds! 

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