Comments on: Abundance & Giving http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/ Adventures in Life, Love and Laundry Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:52:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Jonathan http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/#comment-6062 Jonathan Thu, 27 Dec 2007 16:09:49 +0000 http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/#comment-6062 I mostly agree with you - but, I think it takes direction on the part of the parent, as well, for that outlook to work - which it sounds like you definitely do. I do know a couple of people though, who do not give that guidance, and are truly afraid of their children's reaction if they don't get a certain gift or enough gifts or those who feel guilty b/c they only got their kid 10 things and not 15. I'm sure that is not caused by a single day of splurging each year, but by lots of splurging all year with no guidance on appreciating and respecting what you got and those who gave it to you. Anyway, I agree that abundance and joyful abandon are great from time to time! I mostly agree with you - but, I think it takes direction on the part of the parent, as well, for that outlook to work - which it sounds like you definitely do. I do know a couple of people though, who do not give that guidance, and are truly afraid of their children’s reaction if they don’t get a certain gift or enough gifts or those who feel guilty b/c they only got their kid 10 things and not 15. I’m sure that is not caused by a single day of splurging each year, but by lots of splurging all year with no guidance on appreciating and respecting what you got and those who gave it to you. Anyway, I agree that abundance and joyful abandon are great from time to time!

]]> By: Tony http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/#comment-6058 Tony Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:18:44 +0000 http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/#comment-6058 I think that parents often use the "lesson" to justify their own guilt for not doing more. When you can't afford to do more, or you don't make the time to do more, it is easy to blame it on the holiday and claim that you are just trying to teach a "lesson" that the holidays are too commercial and materialistic to begin with. That being said, I agree with the article and Nicki's post. The lesson is a good one. Generosity, humility, fiscal responsibility, and charity are great lessons and should be instilled in our children...all year. The lesson of Christmas is joy and magic- not restraint and fiscal responsibility. We also do birthdays HUGE!!! But, that is for a different reason. That is to honor and celebrate the individual and we feel they deserve to be treated extravagantly for that one day each year. So- 48 hours a year our children get to experience excess and extravagance. 363 days (364 next year) they learn lessons. I think that parents often use the “lesson” to justify their own guilt for not doing more. When you can’t afford to do more, or you don’t make the time to do more, it is easy to blame it on the holiday and claim that you are just trying to teach a “lesson” that the holidays are too commercial and materialistic to begin with.

That being said, I agree with the article and Nicki’s post. The lesson is a good one. Generosity, humility, fiscal responsibility, and charity are great lessons and should be instilled in our children…all year. The lesson of Christmas is joy and magic- not restraint and fiscal responsibility.

We also do birthdays HUGE!!! But, that is for a different reason. That is to honor and celebrate the individual and we feel they deserve to be treated extravagantly for that one day each year. So- 48 hours a year our children get to experience excess and extravagance. 363 days (364 next year) they learn lessons.

]]> By: Jena http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/#comment-6056 Jena Thu, 27 Dec 2007 13:58:26 +0000 http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/#comment-6056 Hmmmm Nicki- much to think about. I do know that we "gave" our family the Christmas present of a house in September.... but that was pre-kid. Even though we are Christians, our view of Christmas is really one that should last all year- the idea of generousity being tied to one season really nags at me. I want to be as generous in July as I am in December. I agree that kids think in many different ways than we do as adults and that often the "lessons" that we think we are teaching them are not the lessons they are learning. One of the major things that I want my kiddos to learn from Christmas is about being open to the unknown and wonder(as learned from Mary in her response to the angel), so many of our traditions are geared around these concepts. Giving gifts is more easily understood as a ritual that centers around family time and gifts to be enjoyed by all, birthdays are the days of excess in our family..... Sorry for the hi-jack here- you gave me lots to think about... Hmmmm Nicki- much to think about.
I do know that we “gave” our family the Christmas present of a house in September…. but that was pre-kid.

Even though we are Christians, our view of Christmas is really one that should last all year- the idea of generousity being tied to one season really nags at me. I want to be as generous in July as I am in December.

I agree that kids think in many different ways than we do as adults and that often the “lessons” that we think we are teaching them are not the lessons they are learning.

One of the major things that I want my kiddos to learn from Christmas is about being open to the unknown and wonder(as learned from Mary in her response to the angel), so many of our traditions are geared around these concepts. Giving gifts is more easily understood as a ritual that centers around family time and gifts to be enjoyed by all, birthdays are the days of excess in our family…..

Sorry for the hi-jack here- you gave me lots to think about…

]]> By: Nicki http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/#comment-6044 Nicki Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:18:46 +0000 http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/#comment-6044 I think you missed the point. Obviously the children weren't suffering if they had cars of their own and cell phones. That doesn't exactly sound "needy" to me. So which is it? Are they spoiled kids who don't know the value of a dollar? Or are they needy kids who desperately needed a new home? Do you see the dichotomy here? I think you missed the point. Obviously the children weren’t suffering if they had cars of their own and cell phones. That doesn’t exactly sound “needy” to me. So which is it? Are they spoiled kids who don’t know the value of a dollar? Or are they needy kids who desperately needed a new home? Do you see the dichotomy here?

]]> By: Mom http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/#comment-6042 Mom Thu, 27 Dec 2007 03:06:32 +0000 http://www.steppingonlegos.com/2007/12/26/abundance-giving/#comment-6042 The children in the story were teens and had cell phones, a car, etc. Unlike your small children, who appreciate the things they receive, these "kids" did not and only wanted more. This single mom was working full time, going to school, and doing the best she coud for her children. It was a source of pride that she was able to provide a "home" for her children where they could actually have their own bedrooms. This mother was not able to provide more and was immensely proud of what she had been able to accomplish. The extended family would be providing Christmas gifts for her children which she was not able to do (because of the purchase of a home), so the kids would not be going without any gifts. The children in the story were teens and had cell phones, a car, etc. Unlike your small children, who appreciate the things they receive, these “kids” did not and only wanted more. This single mom was working full time, going to school, and doing the best she coud for her children. It was a source of pride that she was able to provide a “home” for her children where they could actually have their own bedrooms. This mother was not able to provide more and was immensely proud of what she had been able to accomplish. The extended family would be providing Christmas gifts for her children which she was not able to do (because of the purchase of a home), so the kids would not be going without any gifts.

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