Sometime soon, your children will see all the Christmas decorations going up everywhere, and begin to dream of the bounty that will await them on Christmas morning under the tree. Despite all evidence to the contrary, they may not have complete faith in your ability to select and purchase the perfect gift. They may find it prudent to encourage your holiday generosity by bringing you a Christmas list that is six pages long or, worse yet, monopolizing the dinner table conversation between now and then with their gift request du jour.
May I suggest that the following preemptive maneuver may be in order.
Bookmark the World Vision Gift Catalog, which is searchable by category and price range. World Vision works in over 100 countries around the world fighting poverty and responding to disasters.
When your child approaches you with their requests, tell them the first gift your family intends to buy is for a needy family. Set your budget for the gift, and sit down together as a family to decide together how to spend it. For reasons that escape me, the gift of choice is a goat for $75, but there are options like two chickens for as little as $25. Have fun reading the information and stories in the catalog while you shop. Pick out a couple of these videos to watch together.
After you make your selection and purchase the gift, print a picture to hang on your Christmas tree. On Christmas morning, remember to talk about the family you are helping before you enjoy watching your kids tear into their gifts.
