Being Present with your children

Ok Christmas, you got me. I'm stumped. I have no idea on what to buy my kids for Christmas. 

See, I was THAT mom when I first had kids. You know, that Mom that wanted to give my kids everything. I told myself, Ok- I had (almost) everything I ever wanted as a kid, why shouldn't my kids get the same? (We won't talk about the Teddy Ruxpin bear that was on my list for Santa consistently for a good 5 years...somehow, Santa never got the memo that I wanted one. Even though I would circle, highlight, bookmark and draw arrows on the page in the JcPenney Christmas catalog... did i just date myself by mentioning that catalog?) Ok back on topic now... I'm ashamed to admit that I spoiled my kids. Against Jesse's wishes I bought those boys everything under the sun and then some. I'm not trying to brag by any means about this, in fact, I'm actually calling myself out on what I never should have done. 

I always had this vision that when I had kids they would have everything they ever wanted while being raised to be respectable to others, know the value of a dollar, be caring, loyal and loving. Well-rounded you might say. I never want them to brag to others about what they have. In fact, I try my very best to teach them that others may not have as much as they do and that we are very fortunate to have these things. But now, I'm changing my game plan. Maybe call it a new-years resolution of sorts. 

This year, I'm stumped. Christmas has me stumped. I have no idea what to get those boys. I don't want anymore toys in this house. They have enough... especially since they're new favorite toys are a pack of dinosaurs I bought at DG for $1. All of those toys that cost $20+ sit in the toybox. (I will admit though, I've been a pretty savvy shopper. A lot of their "nicer" toys have came from Goodwill, the kidsignment expo, yard sales and from the sale sites on fb. I honestly try not to spend full price on toys when I can avoid it.) So, Christmas. I decided that we would by them each a tablet for Christmas... you see, they fight over my phone CONSTANTLY. They fight over the iPad even worse. It's a never ending battle. My fix is to buy them each the same tablet so there won't be any fighting over the "bigger" one. It's a win-win... car rides will be much easier. Quiet time will come more often. And my tv won't have the constant sounds of cars, mickey, george or dinosaurs. See, mom wins too. I also decided to get tickets to Monster Jam and Marvel Live for them. Their at the age now where events like this will be remembered. Plus, time with family doing something they love is worth more than any toy, right? 

Now, of course, it's not Christmas if kids don't at least get a few toys. We're going to get them each a couple of smaller toys that I know they will love and actually play with. Other than that- Nada. Zilch. Nothing. 

Back to the basics. Let's keep it simple. It's so easy to get wrapped up in buying everything for your kids. I'm guilty of it. But you know what, the LOVE of your child can't be bought. When they get older, they'll never remember the $60 toy you bought them for their birthday or Christmas. They're going to remember the nights you snuggled in their bed or laughed with them until you cried. They'll remember building forts and playing superheroes. Racing cars around on their track. Jumping on the bed. Playing outside in the snow. Chasing them around, flying them like their an airplane, reading their favorite book. Just being there. In the moment. Being Present. That's what our kids are going to remember. And you know what, I want to have those memories with my boys. 

I'm guilty of getting caught up in my own stuff and not stopping to realize that this time right now, with my children... it's the most precious time I'm ever going to have. I have to remind myself that my "stuff" isn't nearly as important as making memories with them. So what if the dishes don't get done or the house isn't spotless... Who cares? My kids want my attention NOW. And before I know it, they will be grown up and not want "Mommy" anymore. So I'm stopping more. Worrying less. My house isn't perfect. I'm a hot mess most of the time. But I am PRESENT with my children. I'm creating that special bond with them and making memories that will last a lifetime. Sure they drive me crazy most of the time... but what did I expect with 2 boys? Sure, the constant sound of 546542313 questions a day gets a little annoying... but one day, those questions will stop coming. One day my house will be silent and I will miss the screams and jumping and roaring from those 2 sweet boys. 

What I'm trying to say is that it's easy to get caught up in buying your children everything. With social media it's so easy to compare what you did or didn't get your children-especially with the constant pictures of what others got theirs. I know, sometimes I see things other parents get their kids and think, "Man, I'm a terrible mom. My kids didn't get nearly that much." But you know fellow mommas, It's not a mommy war. We don't need to compete. Our children are happy no matter how much we spend on them. They know no difference between a pack of $1 dinosaurs compared to a pack of $50 dinosaurs. They don't care. Let's not compete anymore... Just be present with your kids. 

I'm not really sure what my main point of this post is. I guess it's that there's no need to feel like you have to "spoil" your kids. They don't need everything. They just need us to be in their lives. To show them how much we love and adore them. So join me, starting now... Let's be in the present with our kids. Let's make those memories with them that they will one day tell their children about. Let's set a good, Godly example for our kids... Teach them right from wrong. To be respectful, caring, honest and loving. 

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it" 

Proverbs 22:6