A couple of years ago our family instituted a new Christmas policy. We all like presents, and are perfectly good consumers, but it had gotten out of hand. We had mountains of gifts. We just had too much stuff, or maybe it was because we were broke that year, I can't remember which. Perhaps it was a combination, but either way we came up with a new way of doing presents.
Christmas evening, after the kids had opened their gifts, after "It's a Wonderful Life", after a big dinner, we all sit down and tell each other stories.
We tend to hand out the writing prompt on Thanksgiving - "What is your favorite childhood memory?" was our first attempt. The next year we each picked a name out of a hat and we had to write something about the family member whose name we'd picked.
We usually write about a page's worth. Then we hand out our pages, and everyone reads someone else's thoughts. This is to cut down on the tears. Sometimes our stories are ridiculously funny, and sometimes we cry.
This has turned into the most anticipated part of Christmas Day for the Stuart/Miller/Thomas households. What will Grandpa write about this year? What embarassing story will Jen tell about her sister?
So as we move into Advent I encourage you to think of ways that can make this season more meaningful to you and yours.
Check out www.adventconspiracy.org for other ideas.
