| My son's bedtime ritual (like that of many young | | | | memory is a simple walk to the local airport and |
| children) is written in stone. After reading a book or | | | | checking out the sites along the way.Why do we |
| two, we snuggle into his bed and compare notes | | | | spend so much money during the holidays on |
| about the day. I ask him if today was a good day and | | | | expensive gifts that will most likely be forgotten or |
| being a cheerful fellow he always says "yes".After | | | | tossed aside or outgrown -- sometimes before the |
| reviewing the highlights of the day -- all the elements | | | | tinsel is taken down. In the end it is lavishing our time |
| that made it a "good day" -- I ask him which was the | | | | and attention on our loved ones that is the greatest gift |
| best part. Often the answer surprises me but after | | | | of all.Not only is it a wonderful gift for our loved ones |
| some reflection I decided this fact was due to | | | | (who likely won't require a dead possum for bonding) |
| something pretty wonderful. My child has his priorities in | | | | but it is also a wonderful gift for ourselves. The holiday |
| the right order.Noah's grandparents live in another state | | | | season can be frantic and filled with crazy shopping |
| so when they visit there tends to be even more | | | | malls and unjolly traffic jams. Taking time out to spend |
| spoiling than might be expected from grandparents. | | | | quality time with our loved ones is really what we |
| One visit from my parents included several small gifts | | | | should give ourselves this holiday season.Sitting around |
| presented at the beginning of the visit, a trip to | | | | the kitchen table making homemade Christmas cards |
| Wal-Mart with grandparents to purchase a new | | | | with Noah means our holiday message will stand out |
| power ranger, and another trip to Wal-Mart with | | | | from the pile of glitzy prepackaged cards and we will |
| Grandpa to buy a new Spider Man bike and helmet | | | | have spent hours together giggling over our work with |
| (Noah's first big bike). They also took him on several | | | | glue, construction paper, and scissors. I don't know |
| outings to the park, children's museum, McDonalds and | | | | about you but I'd much rather bond over glitter glue |
| so on.However after the grandparents had departed I | | | | than a decomposing possum.We are also working on |
| asked Noah about the best part of the visit. He | | | | his holiday gifts for various family members which I |
| thought for a moment and said: "Going for a walk with | | | | know will be lovingly appreciated by grandparents and |
| Grandpa and seeing the dead possum."The dead | | | | cousins alike. More than crafting picture frames and |
| possum is located on a route we follow pretty | | | | holiday scarves we are crafting memories that I hope |
| regularly for our walks and we have watched the | | | | he will cherish his whole life. And I hope that I am |
| decomposition process with interest. Whenever we | | | | teaching him that gifts from the heart mean much |
| see the possum Noah always mentions his | | | | more than gifts from the wallet.But then he may |
| grandfather and whenever they speak on the phone | | | | already know that as he snuggles down beneath his |
| he updates his grandfather on the status of the | | | | pillow and quilt -- both lovingly quilted by his |
| corpse.Just think about these stories. Noah was | | | | grandmother -- for his afternoon nap. |
| showered with gifts and lavish outings but his favorite | | | | |