Most of us have too many things: closets full of clothes, toys, souvenirs. We spend a lot of money and time to get these things, and then we just throw them away, at best, give them away. It turns out that we spent time and in the end did not get anything in return - things no longer please us.
Kathy, a mom of five and founder of the Wellness Mama , suggests giving experiences, not gifts. They remember exciting events for years with tenderness and delight. Yes, and terrible ridiculous stories after a while bring no less pleasure: it’s funny to remember how you got lost in a museum and accidentally wandered into the back room with terrible exhibits.
We offer you a translation of her article from the site ADME.ru.
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We share our impressions and understand that we are a family. Here is what we have been giving each other for several years in a row, and we are still not tired of it:
Gifts for the whole family
This is an opportunity to spend time together with interest and benefit.
# Subscription to the museum. There are probably museums in your city where you want to come all the time. Many museums offer subscriptions for half a year or a year and discounts for local residents or make exhibitions especially for children.
# Subscription to the science center. Many cities also have children's science centers or science museums. We realized that buying one annual pass for our family of seven is cheaper than going there with tickets once. We enjoy spending the weekend here if the weather is bad, and often come here on Fridays after work.
# Concert tickets. We live in a small town, but we have a great local orchestra. Children's tickets are inexpensive, and children love live music.
# Tickets to the local theater . They were given to us last year. My husband and I chose serious performances, and the children were sent to children's.
# Tent for camping. The case when a thing serves to get new impressions. Since we were given a tent, we often go out into nature and fry sausages on a fire.
# A new hobby for the whole family. Another case where a thing turns into an experience. You can give a board game or a huge puzzle that the whole family will collect on long winter evenings.
# Charity. Give each child about $50-$100 (whatever you can afford) and let them decide what to spend it on.
But an indispensable condition is for a good deed. Our children usually voluntarily donate money for food or clothing for children from boarding schools or to help homeless animals. If the children have already grown up, you can work with them for a day or two in the dining room for those who are in trouble - let the children help cook the soup and pour it into cups themselves. So from childhood they have the opportunity to help others.
Gifts for children
You probably know what your kids like to do or what they might like. Give them the opportunity to enjoy their favorite hobby whenever they want.
# Club of modeling, drawing, horseback riding, knitting. Yes, anything.
Our daughters are delighted! They go to the modeling club, they make and paint pots and plates themselves. If you know that the child wants to try a new activity, give him this opportunity - let him go to the club for a month and try. If you like it, you can go further.
# Any sports club. Give a subscription to get started for a month. You can extend if you like.
# Climbing wall. Our oldest son loves it. Many urban climbing walls or climbing clubs sell yearly passes.
# Oceanarium, dolphinarium or zoo. Children usually like to look at animals and fish.
# Bowling, skate park or ice rink. You can also buy individual tickets or certificates. By the way, you can go to the bowling alley and the skating rink with the whole family.
# Treasure Day. If you decide to give an item, turn the gift into an adventure: hide it, hang clues around the house and help your child find it. Not very suitable for the New Year, we still usually put gifts under the tree, but just right for a birthday.
# Lunch at the children's cafe. Give the children certificates for visiting a themed children's cafe and go there with them.
# Movie tickets. We can't go to the movies often, but this year our kids will get Star Wars tickets and go there with their dad. I think they will like this gift more than anyone else.
# Book of questions and answers. All young children ask questions like, "Why is the water wet?" I, as an adult with a higher education, cannot always answer them. So I gave this book as a gift. Now we have a favorite game - every day the children choose one question and we discuss it. Sometimes I learn a lot of interesting things.
# Subscription to educational children's magazine. Our children love to read paper books, receive paper letters, postcards and magazines. So relatives who live far away subscribe useful magazines for them, and the children look forward to them every month.
# Set for needlework. My aunt herself made and gave the children a large basket, where there were scissors, paper, glue, threads and other useful things for creativity. My daughters are now happy to make paper crafts and embroider, and I myself have learned a lot.
# Gardener's set. The set may include a flower pot, soil, drainage, seeds. Let the child plant the flower himself and take care of it.
# Musical instrument. The most favorite gift last year was a drum. Now my husband teaches children to play on it. True, I really regretted it for a couple of days, so be careful.
gifts for dad
Depends on what dad is into. Here are some ideas that my husband liked:
# Sports. I gave my husband tickets to the games of my favorite hockey teams and even found tickets for training with athletes. I think it was an unforgettable adventure.
# Camping. It can be a hike or camping equipment, fishing on a lake with trout (often the lakes belong to someone), or a sports game.
# Subscription to the diving center. My husband and I once presented each other with such a subscription and went to classes together.
# Parachuting club. If dad loves adventure, you can also buy a subscription here.
gifts for mom
We've all read jokes about moms enjoying a bubble bath or their hobby without a sleeping baby on their lap. Now, this is not a joke. Every mother is happy to receive as a gift:
# Day off. Moms work all year round, seven days a week, so the best gift is free time. I love getting a day when I don't have to cook and clean. It is especially nice if a certificate for visiting a cafe or spa is attached to the weekend.
# A table in a restaurant. Several dads (a subtle hint at thick circumstances) can agree and give their wives a table in a restaurant where they can chat to their heart's content.
# Date. Sometimes you want to take a break from children, no matter how much you love them. Therefore, the husband books a table, arranges with the nanny and arranges an evening just for the two of us.
# Daytime sleep. This gift is not worth a dime. But if at least for a couple of hours to free mom from daytime worries and give her the opportunity to take a nap, she will be very grateful.
# Any gift for the whole family that we have already listed.
Gifts for grandparents
Grandparents love their grandchildren. So what can you donate?
# Day with grandchildren. Everyone will be happy: grandparents, children, and parents. Usually everyone finds classes on their own, but as a bonus, you can give tickets to the park or a certificate to a cafe.
# Commemorative album. A book with photos, important moments from the life of the whole family, wishes and touching "We love you!" children's handwriting. It is especially nice if children make such an album with their own hands.
# Subscribe anywhere. It can be the same pottery club, only for adults, a museum, a zoo, a science center. Grandparents can go alone, or they can go with their grandchildren; at the same time you will have a little rest and will not worry, because the children will be supervised.
I listed the ideas that are in use in our family, and probably did not take into account something. There are a lot of options: you need to think a little, and you will remember your adventures for years and rejoice every time. Things wear out, break down and get bored sooner or later, but this will never happen with memories.
