Teenagers and Christmas

For the last 4 years we have been making our own ornaments for the tree. I go to Michael's or Hobby Lobby and buy pony beads and pipe cleaners for candy canes and wreaths, I buy plywood ornaments and paint, foam ornaments and glitter glue. A different theme every year. Every ornament on our tree is hand made and we have all of the previous years, and a new one to add. You might be thinking that this is just for the younger kids, but when I get it all out my "super cool" teenaged boys are right at the table with everyone else. Not because I make them, but because they want to be.

You could bake cookies for the troops. Just call your local reserve unit and find out who is gone and how you can send them.

You could take a night of the week to go to a different area and go "light looking."

You could go to a senior citizen center and donate your time with them to sing carols, help them make or wrap presents or just keep them company.

You could make a list of one thing you are going to do each day until Christmas for someone else in the community. For instance, cookies for the fire-fighters, a meal to an elderly family, take another single moms young kids Christmas shopping for her (just to the Dollar Tree to help them pick out someting for her).

As they get older the kiddie Christmas wears off and you have to get a little creative. It's the memories you will make with them that will last them a lot longer and will give you that special feeling every year.

Hope this helps,

L.

Why not try doing something like adopting a needy family through your community care to show the spirit of giving. Although Im sure being a single mom, things may be tight around the holidays, you can adopt one child and buy a few small things! The older our kids gt, the harder it is around the holidays!! My teenager cant give me any gift ideas, only asks for money!! Good luck and Merry Christmas!

If you count "spending time with family" in the true meaning of Christmas, try going sledding, skiing or hiking in the snow. Come home and have cocoa and cookies, or soup and sandwiches. Maybe take another single mom's kids along (or kids who have a parent stationed overseas) so the mom gets some time for herself.

You could make school kits or hygiene kits for poor kids, the Church World Service website (www.churchworldservice.org)has info.

Volunteer for any of the charitable organizations--Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, soup kitchen, food pantry, Salvation Army, Veterans' Hospital, etc.

HAve fun!

K. Z.

Have you tried going to a soup kitchen or food pantry to help hand out food? Or delivering presents to needy families?

Contact your local children's services. They have a list of kids in foster care that will recieve nothing for Christmas. They are looking for people to supply gifts. You can pick out a child and get them a gift off their list. Its not supposed to cost more than $40. This way your children will get to experience being Santa Claus.

Make SURE to include helping out something like Angel Tree or Operation Christmas Child, serving at a local shelter, etc. Make it tradition. We make sure to do this every year as a reminder of others less fortunate and how important it is to volunteer and/or help others.

Christmas is not about what we GET. It's about the GIFT of being able to give.

I think it's important when kids make Christmas lists to add things like, "the gift of appreciation" "the gift of respect", "the gift of listening", etc.

I just made my list and include these things (mostly these kinds of things) as a reminder of the value of these gifts. Kids need to learn the value of them, as well. Would be nice for them to include them AND for you to make a list to give to them that includes them. THEN, talk about how to accomplish those values.

Rent a special Christmas movie.....make it a tradition to watch a Christmas movie or THE CHRISTMAS STORY or whatever your family decides. Add things like popcorn and hot chocolate, etc. It's the gift of family and being together. THESE are the things that create memories and value to family and their members.

Churches have pagents, shows, etc and maybe you can pick a different one or favorite one each year. Christmas eve services, making a night to go look at Christmas lights, etc. Make the MOST of your tradition and/or time together....things that will bring LASTING value and special memories to Christmas.