How to Have a Holly Jolly Christmas without the gifts
There is no doubt that even post-pandemic the holiday season will be different. During the height of Covid-19 I thought for sure Halloween was going to be a doozy, but I was so wrong. One thing we know about this generation of children is that they are learning to be resilient, adaptable, and grateful. They also have a different perspective on hardship.
This season is the perfect time to transition away from the traditional loads of gifts under the tree and teach our children the true spirit of the holiday season.
I can name several silver linings in the past 19 months, one of them is being home more with my children. Some days I call it a curse! But truly I am grateful for the gift of time. I am working from home, so I have more time to prep home-cooked meals. My boys have learned to cook and help make meals regularly. Without the hustle and bustle of sports and extra-curricular activities, we have family meals at the table nearly every night. This holiday season I will include them in making our traditional holiday foods.
My family loves visiting our local library! I plan on borrowing books about the true reason for the season. I will use the books to start a discussion about charitable giving. There is no time better to teach our children the joy of giving.
I know you think this blog will have the obligatory, “make homemade crafts with your kids.” I admit I am not that mom. Crafting supplies are expensive. I don't have the patience and I am not into up-cycled toilet paper roll crafts. Instead, I will invest that money in our Postal Service and send holiday cards! Not the traditional glossy holiday card that families send which include photos of their epic travels and adventures. This year we didn’t get to go anywhere so I will ask my boys to draw a holiday picture. I will scan the pictures and glue them on card stock precut to fit into square envelopes. I will also ask them to write the holiday greeting. For those of you that send a holiday letter ask your children to draft or verbalize their own recap of the last few years. You may be pleasantly surprised.
This a true keepsake!
About Claudette Shatto
Claudette has lived in the Napa Valley for 21 years. She is married with two elementary-aged children.
Claudette is a Professor at Napa Valley College. She teaches Social Media and Digital Marketing for the Napa Valley Education Foundation. She is also a contributing blogger for Napa Valley Kids. Her passion project is teaching leadership to first graders. She is currently writing children’s picture books incorporating the entrepreneur/ growth mindset.
Not one to sit still, during Covid she pushed herself out of her comfort zone and is now a part-time radio DJ. You can listen to her on 99.3 the Vine on Mondays & Friday from 3 to 7 pm.
Follow her on social @claudetteshatto
