A few weeks ago I went with my sister and a friend to knock out all my Christmas shopping in one day. Last year I only bought a few nice things, but let me tell you why we aren’t doing a minimalist Christmas this year.
I have had a lot of requests this year for minimalist, simple living friendly, gifts for kids. I hate to disappoint but you all, but I actually did things quite a bit differently this year. Normally, I would be your go-to gal for how to get as few toys as possible for your kids, but I literally did a 180 on my gift-giving strategy.
Now, you all know I love to keep our house clutter free and minimal. With five kids running around, it’s a lot easier to keep an orderly home when there aren’t unused possessions stuffed inside every open drawer, cabinet and basket.
In our home, we have a couple sets of built-ins that have almost nothing stored in them. On the shelves, the baskets remain mostly empty. I just figure if something is used so infrequently that we store it away, chances are good we will never actually need the item at all.
I like to keep clutter to a bare minimum, so no one in our family has to spend extra minutes of our lives cleaning up stuff we don’t use.
With all that being said, I did a thing this year. I went out and spent all the allotted Christmas money for our children on the cheapest and largest toys possible.
Whaaa?? Are you even Lisa talking right now?! Who hijacked your blog and wrote this blasphemous post?
Ok, give me a minute to explain myself. I’m blaming this on Marie Kondo
Did you read Marie Kondo’s book, the Life changing Magic of Tidying Up? The basic premise of the book is that you should only keep things in your home that spark joy. There is more to it than that, and it really is quite life changing. You wouldn’t believe how much of your life is devoted to organizing, recategorizing and stressing over the things in your life that actually add nothing to it.
There is a section in the book where she goes into what to do with gifts you were given that are just no longer relevant to your life. Usually in this scenario, people feel guilty for discarding something that was given to them by a loved one. She addresses this guilt and offers a very practical solution.
Basically, the item in question served its purpose the moment the joy was felt by the giver or receiver of the gift.
So say, for example, your grandma gave you a sweater you don’t love very much. When you opened that gift, I bet you smiled. I bet your grandma felt really great about making you happy. That right there was the moment that item served its purpose. That moment of joy shared by you and your grandma.
If later you decide that sweater doesn’t fit quite right, and it is just taking up space in your cluttered dresser, it is quite ok to let it go. Donate it to someone in need. It has served its purpose.
What does this have to do with kids on Christmas?
For kids, Christmas morning is just about the most exciting day of the year. I remember being a kid and it felt simply magical. My mom used to wrap all the presents several days before Christmas and have them sitting under the tree. My sisters and I would sort them in biggest to smallest, shake them and line them up in the order which we would open them.
The anticipation was the best part.
This year I decided to think of the gifts as an experience of joy to give to the kiddos. So what if they’re cheap and bulky. When they tire of them in a few months, I can bring them up to the local Goodwill.
They already served their purpose Christmas morning in the joy they brought and the memories they will create.
The story of last year when I ruined my kids christmas
This whole strategy change stemmed from a sad day Christmas Eve last year. We were at my grandma’s house, where there are 15 kids 10 and under. It is madness when the presents come out.
Well, in my usual minimalist-mom fashion I decided to pool the kids money together and get them a few nice things instead of a bunch of junk. As the other kids were all playing with there dolls, dinosaurs, puzzles and trains, my five year asked me when he could open his next present.
It made me so sad, because I had nothing else for him to open. His little mind couldn’t compute the logical like mine could. Hey kid, we will be going to another Christmas party tomorrow where you’ll get a few more things. You already have other toys at home. There are kids all over the world who would love to just get one present. Why are you so ungrateful?
Someday kids will be mature enough to understand that life is more than big presents, and that there are people in the world who are less fortunate. Someday will come soon enough.
For now, ten dollar store gifts mean more to him than one nice book.
Ok, I didn’t actually ruin their Christmas last year, but I did realize something. The magic of Christmas for kids is in the frivolous and fun. If the wrapped box is huge, they have a blast unwrapping it. It doesn’t matter to them that they will probably forget that toy exists in less than two weeks.
The item served its purpose right there on Christmas morning. In a few weeks/months, when the kids have forgotten the items, I can haul them off to Goodwill for someone else to enjoy.
Don’t hold me to this
I may change my strategy again next year, but for right now in this season, this is where ma few of my kids are. I want to create happy memories and traditions, and keep the magic in this special season.
How do you handle Christmas with your kids? Let me know in the comments below!
Suzanne says
About kids and Christmas gifts…my take has always been “the Baby Jesus received a gift from each of three Wise Men”. Three prettily wrapped gifts is enough for any child to rip open at Christmas (in addition to lots of little goodies in a stocking). They should have toys to play with and break. Toys stimulate imagination and help children learn to socialize with one another. They just don’t need so many that mom and dad have to go into debt to provide them.
I’m a post-WWII baby and my parents had very little money when I was small. My brother, sister and I had a few gifts each but never felt deprived because each gift was chosen with love from the best parents ever.
I admire your thrift and that you put love of one another before things.
May God always bless you with health and happiness.
Valerie says
Something we could all consider in this idea for the little ones cheaper toys is buying used or donated/thrifted toys instead. Especially if we’re going to “take it to the local Goodwill” in a few months, might as well recycle so it speak. I do buy new for extended family because I think they might feel weird about a used (not new in box) gift, but my 3 and 5 year olds don’t care if it came from Target or Goodwill, etc., it’s the exact same plastic anyway, I just wipe them off well with soap and water or add fresh batteries, etc. I just wanted to include the thought, love your style and blog, God bless!
Lisa says
Smart!
Adrienne says
I love this! When we were kids we didn’t have a ton of presents, but I remember how much we just enjoyed the traditions of the season, one of which was to sit in a circle and open presents one at a time (oldest to youngest or vice versa). We would all ooh and aah over each present and have a blast. I think it was a way my parent’s chose to make it last longer, even when we each only had a few things. But we totally loved it! I love the perspective of choosing what’s right for your family in the season that you’re at, even if that might be different that what you did last year or what people are expecting. It’s good to give ourselves grace, especially at Christmas 🙂
Kristy says
While that is a great thought, bringing joy to kids, it’s also good to teach them early on about saving the environment by reducing consumerism.
Buying cheap plastic toys are even worse for our earth rather than buying well thought gifts that have purposes (if they are into music or sports or arts).
So before recycling, think about refusing in the first place. That way your minimalist lifestyle meets with zero-waste goals. Hope this year you’ll have a better tradition..merry christmas.
Connie Martin says
I love the simple Christmas tree with just bows. What type of material did you use and what is the best way to tie them on…do you tie on branch or make the bow and use a hook?
Carol says
Just wondering what the Christmas gift plans are for this year? We have always done fewer but nicer gifts for each child. Grandma is finally on board! Two nice gifts per grandchild , and then she arranges some sort of game for dollar store prizes, my kids love it! I also wrap each item I put in their stocking so we can open those Christmas Eve, they opened Christmas pjs the day before Thanksgiving to wear them longer , and each child will receive two nice items from us to open Christmas Day. I feel like when they open loads of presents all at one time no one knows what to play with, they end up in a pile in the corner of their bedroom. We also decluttered the playroom the end of October and donated several bags of toys, and sold several sets and large items they have outgrown before people were knee deep into holiday shopping . We also sold winter coats and clothing that were outgrown. This became my gift money! I become easily stressed out over messes and clutter and it overwhelms a couple of my more sensitive kids, so this works well for us. We are not doing niece/nephew gifts this year either and I cut back on the number of cards I sent out ,due to needing to purchase a new vehicle, money is a little tight this year , but I don’t spend a lot even when the bank account is full. Less is more! The kids have never compared or complained ! We’ve always done it this way so it’s all they know .
Kristy says
While that is a great thought, bringing joy to kids, it’s also good to teach them early on about saving the environment by reducing consumerism.
Buying cheap plastic toys are even worse for our earth rather than buying well thought gifts that have purposes (if they are into music or sports or arts).
So before recycling, think about refusing in the first place. That way your minimalist lifestyle meets with zero-waste goals. Hope this year you’ll have a better tradition..merry christmas.
Jaymie says
When Santa comes he leaves goodies everywhere and adds lots more decorations. It was a tradition from my f.I.Ls side. It’s a lot of work, but the look in their eye’s is priceless
Patty Hager says
I absolutely love your idea! The joy on the childreb’s faces means everything Christmas morning. I gave great grandchildren now to buy for. Each gets one outfit and a toy with meaning. They will get so much, but I want them to know the love behind what I got them as I do for my grandkids and two adult children. My granddaughter l’s money is tight this year and she decided to paint pictures for her gifts. They turned out beautiful. We all have talents from God and honestly I stand amazed at all He has given you dear one. Your You tube programs just lift my spirits watching all you do and your beautiful family. Merry Christmas from West Virginia
Angeline Cowles says
Oh no. Welcome to Mom guilt. Lol. The best part of kids is all that alleged misery you caused will one day turn into a funny story that they tease you with when they become adults. Trust me. I’m there with my kids. They are relentless.
Chris T. says
Oh, I just love this!! Yes, yes, and yes,.. as a grandparent I can so relate. . you just want them to feel loved. . they don’t care about and can’t comprehend the price . .it’s just literally the joy and magic of that moment that will be forever connected to that place in time and their hearts. . I’m 58 and still remember, my son is grown with a family of his own and he still remembers. . We usually get them one nice gift, something they really want and then lots of fun silly smaller items. . they only grow up once .. lots of time for the practical! You’re such a good mamma. God bless you and yours during this most holy season.