KMPH FOX 26 | Central San Joaquin Valley News SourceGiving Outside the Box This Holiday Season

By Alissa Forester

There are certain things, important things, that parents hope to instill in their children. Compassion for others, selflessness, and giving are virtues that my husband and I hope for our kids. These aren't traits that a child is born with, but virtues that need to be nurtured over time. Our sweet precious three year old Sydney can easily be a crazed, selfish little monster. Like the seagulls on 'Finding Nemo,' chanting "mine, mine, mine, mine." This is going to take some time and effort on our part as parents, to teach her that life isn't all about Sydney.

I don't want my kids to think the world revolves around them, because what kind of adults would they turn out to be? I want them to be mindful of how their actions affect others, and to really care about people. I want my kids to go beyond our little bubble that we live in, and to see that not everyone is as fortunate as we are. As a mom, I know that what I do is going to influence how my kids see the world; perhaps even more than anyone else.

So my goal is to be intentional about giving. The holidays are here, and the true reason for the season is giving to others. What a perfect opportunity we have to teach our kids about giving! I am going to try to be intentional about giving by making it a part of what we do as a family. We can do things together to give to others, so that the focus is on the giving and not on the getting.

So...this sounds like a noble cause and all, but how the heck am I going to fit it into my crazy schedule?! Between hosting two Christmas parties, preschool, work, visiting family, doctors appointments, a wedding, friends visiting, and did I mention Christmas shopping? I really don't know how this is going to happen. Baby steps, okay. I can do this. I can fit a few things into my hectic life- oh yeah that's exactly what I'm trying to teach my kids!

If I'm going to be intentional about giving, I need to have the mindset in place. I'm so excited about Sydney experiencing the magic of Christmas and Santa Claus, but I can't teach her on the first Christmas that she'll remember, that it's all about getting presents. I'm going to plan ahead, and put it on the calendar. I'm writing it in pen. Going through my many options for giving, I'm getting excited- this is going to be fun! It will add to the Christmas cheer! I know I'm sentimental. I'm hoping that we'll be starting new traditions, and that giving as a family will be something my kids look forward to each year. I think that's when my goal will be accomplished.

Giving Outside The Box

-Local Giving- the Community Food Bank (communityfoodbank.net), Fresno Rescue Mission (fresnorescuemission.org) and Poverello House (poverellohouse.org) have so many needs for the holidays. You can donate food, clothing, toys, and other specifics listed online, or even volunteer with your kids.

-Giving Advent Calendar- 24 giving ideas. Things that cost nothing but time, like taking cookies to a nursing home or helping your neighbor put up their Christmas lights. Kids will look forward to opening and fulfilling them each day- it helps if you add candy!

-Help Soldiers Celebrate- auntnancyusa.com is a website founded by Aunt Nancy, whose niece and her husband were deployed in Iraq. Her niece wrote her about how sad it is that so many soldiers don't receive care packages or even letters. This inspired Aunt Nancy to help those soldiers. It's very simple- you go to the website, enter your email address, and Aunt Nancy will send you the name and address of a soldier. A note of thanks along with sunblock, batteries, hand wipes, and other necessities makes for a great care package.

-Random Acts of Kindness- draw names for a family Secret Santa a few weeks before Christmas. Instead of giving presents (or in addition to), do anonymous chores and random acts of kindness for the person whose name you chose. Like straightening up a closet, feeding the cat, making a bed. Be sneaky and don't get caught to make it fun. On Christmas morning, everyone reveals whose Secret Santa they were and says thank you.

-Take Stock- talk to your kids about kids who don't have toys, and how they could help them by sharing some of theirs. Go through toys and clothes with your kids- and only give the good stuff (ie: no headless dolls). Getting rid of stuff makes room for new gifts, and also reminds kids that there are those less fortunate.

-Support a Loved One's Favorite Cause- for extended family, draw names and gives secretly to that person's favorite cause. On Christmas, share what you did and why you did it. You'll see the thoughtfulness of each person's giving- like donating to a school team, or volunteering to help kids with autism.

-Gifts for Santa- talk with your kids about giving Santa a gift. Leave a gift beside a plate of cookies on Christmas Eve. Sturdy black boots, a sleeping bag, a warm blanket, or anything Santa could use. Santa has been know to donate to local homeless shelters.

-Operation Christmas Child- go to samaritanspurse.org and print up a label for a boy or girl and their age. Fill an empty shoe box or small plastic container with gifts that will bring delight to a child. Wrapping the box is optional, $7 donation covers shipping, and you drop the box off at a drop-off location in your town.

-Give Overseas- Heifer International is an organization that works to end world hunger. For over 65 years they have been giving people all over the world a sustainable source of food and income. The gift of a cow gives kids a rich glass of milk to drink each morning before school. Classes are paid for with income from the sale of milk, and there is even enough to share with neighbors. It is the gift that keeps giving, as the first offspring are passed on to another family in need. Heifer.org has a gift catalog that enables you to give a flock of chicks, honeybees, a goat, llama, sheep, camel, heifer or other gifts to help families around the world. You can also give where it is most needed in the form of an online donation.

-The Gift of Friendship- In the form of a pen pal- a child in need from another country. Compassion International is a well-known and respected organization that partners with you to sponsor a child in another country. You can go online to compassion.com and look through photographs of children who need a sponsor. You can also enter the age, sex, and country of your choice. $38 a month provides nutritious meals, education, health and hygiene training, medical checkups, and the embrace of a local church. You can teach your kids about your Compassion child's country, and correspond as a family.

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You can read Alissa's blog at: www.happyhourmom.com