Words of Wisdom from SharLeigh
GETTING BACK TO THE BASICS
This Holiday Season may prove to be the toughest we have seen in a long time, so surviving the holidays will take a lot of creative thinking. How can we please our children without disappointing them? Back in the 1930s during the Great Depression times were really tough. As a child, I remember hearing the stories of those that lived through this hard time. Back then, people did without a lot of things yet still survived. Today, we must adjust our priorities like the folks did during those difficult years. We must shift our focus to the importance of the season and family, instead of the children’s desires for all those expensive gifts. This is a good time to start new family traditions – ones that do not involve Santa Clause or trips to the mall. One of the best things we can teach our children is the importance of charity. Making gift baskets for needy families, delivering meals to shut-ins, caroling at the local senior center or donating time to a good non-profit organization are all great ways to enjoy the season without spending money you don’t have. And, if you include your children in these activities, it will help them to be more grateful for what they have. Other fun family activities include baking goodies and making presents – think of the wonderful time you will have creating things with your children. And since video games are so expensive, how about giving your kids some of those great inexpensive board games that we all grew up with? Both you and your children can enjoy these games all year, not just a few fleeting moments on Christmas morning. These ideas do not cost much but they are rich in tradition and memories. Maybe getting back to basics and making life simpler is what we all need to learn again. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our devoted 10-4 readers out there!