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