With birthday, and Christmas right around the corner I need to start gathering presents for both occasions. My wife has purchased tickets for some Leafs games, and I picked up a Jersey for my daughter for her birthday. Now that we are quickly approaching double digits we’ve decided to go more in the direction of experiences, and events, than stuff. We are all good for clothes, toys, art supplies, and stuffies. Now it’s time for live theater shows, concerts, hockey games, and trips to do something new. Go make some memories! And hoard fewer items in this teenie tiny house.
Same goes for our younger child, though not as rigorously. She is still very much in a toy oriented childhood stage. But, I say that, yet she is very fond of playing Minecraft, and loves video games. So if she continues on with her tutoring, doing her readings, and trying hard to bridge the gap she can get a Switch by her next birthday without too much concern. She’ll have earned it by then. That’ll be eight months of steady work to acquire the Nintendo Switch. I won’t begrudge her that. But still, fewer things to clutter her room, and the rest of the house would be a good move too.
That’s not to say there will be nothing to open on Christmas day. They will have a few small items to open, and play with, but the bulk will be spent on an experience. Like pottery wheel lessons, rock climbing sessions, going to see a game/show of some sort. It’s been a quiet year, so I shan’t go all out this holiday season. I fear I have set a bad precedent by going a little loopy with gifts. My fault. I’m well aware of that. Mounds of Lego, baskets full of dolls, play sets, houses, castles, planes, and cars for all types of dolls. Mind you, we got a huge chunk of that stuff second hand, or on clearance, or from family whose kids had grown out of it. I’m not rich! But I have spoiled the kids, and that’s on me.
Also, with the new puppy we can’t have wrapped gifts under the tree until Christmas Eve night, or else the wee little bugger will ruin my wrapping job. So that might help the kids adjust to fewer “things” under the tree this year. Anyway, before you know it they’ll be after make-up, clothes, or tools, and equipment for their own specific hobbies. The little one likes to paint, so I can see her needing a good set of brushes to keep, and look after. Or a second hand pottery wheel if she takes to the lessons, like I suspect she will. Or a harness, shoes, and chalk bag for the rock climbing she loves so much. I think we will have to be more targeted towards hobbies, and activities, rather than straight up toys from here on out. Decent gear is always appreciated, especially if it’s a hobby you really, really care about.
It is taking time, but slowly they are developing interests that extend beyond YouTube and toys. Taekwondo, hockey games, specific artistic endeavours beyond “crafts” of the generic sort. Think water colour painting, more so than splashing glitter glue on recyclables. Rock climbing is a big one right now. So is an interest in making pottery. If they take up reading, or an instrument we have loads of options there too. Lessons, books, music stand, metronome, an instrument of their own to noodle about with. Music, and being able to make it is a massive boon for the soul. I love being able to bash out music on the guitar, bass, and just a little on piano. I played the trombone for five or six years, and playing in an orchestra filled me with so much joy. Making music with others, is really good fun. I miss it dearly.
But enough about me. I’ve got lots to do with the holidays, and a birthday coming up soon. I should have been ordering things in October to make sure it all gets here in time to be wrapped, and accounted for. I need to have some conversations with a few folks. Happy lazy Sunday to you all.
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