What's the gift that keeps on giving?

Photo Credit: Mick Haupt on Unsplash.com

Here's an audio clip so you can listen to the Mom Tip while you dust the living room!

Hi, I’m Regan Barnes from Momivate, and this is your two-minute Mom Tip empowering you to elevate your mothering experience.

I’m starting out with a Confession: I haven’t always liked the holiday season -- my husband is adorable -- he has a childlike fascination with the festivities of winter and it is a sweet blessing to watch his whole-hearted devotion to all things Christmas. I have to keep working to overcome dregs of childhood memories when my mom was too stressed out by anything money related because she was single. 
 
Part of the problem, I confess, is that we end up with too much stuff -- and I really don't like clutter... Especially paying money to get more clutter! 
 
It's my own fault! I want to make our children's dreams come true! So I buy them the plastic toys and anxiously await the momentary glitter in their eyes when they tear open the wrapping paper!  Then they give Santa all the credit... I'm not bitter, though!
 
Ahem, 
 
So, my point is that over the years I have learned to give memories rather than stuff! For example, one year, I gave my daughters the gift of attending a mother/daughter retreat at a mansion at Bear Lake!
 
It was slightly more expensive than what we normally budget for Christmas gifts, but they've never outgrown the fun we had, I've never had to pick it up off the floor or give it to goodwill or throw it away because it got broken!
 
Oh, and Santa didn't get the credit for it!!

Moms, as the Christmas season approaches, brainstorm: What memories can you give as gifts? How about going to a concert together? Getting season tickets to your favorite sports team? Signing up for a class together, maybe kickboxing at the gym or a second language at the local community college... A camping trip or a cruise? The key word is “together” and that’s how memories are made. Please share if this practice elevates your mothering!