"alternative giving".... as in alternative to consumerism...

I don't know if it can be considered alternative to consumerism, but I always try to give the gift of something to DO vs. some THING. I wish it was ok to ASK for that kind of stuff but for some reason xx dollars worth of crap for my kids is ok, but xx dollars for a museum membership or excursion or something like that is harder to ask for...why is that?

I have given massages, dinners out, tickets to plays, etc, etc...this year my gift to my mom is my entire family coming out to visit for a week after New Year's...

I have also made things with my daughter so she could feel like she "helped" and gave a gift she had some "ownership" over. It's a lot of work though.

Two Likes!

the link to the Humankind program

http://www.humanmedia.org/catalog/player/playsingle.php?f=excerpts/172_reclaiming_holidays.mp3

After seeing what's going on in stores, and watching people around me go crazy with decorations and gifts (does a 6 year old who can barely read REALLY need a tablet? And her 8 year old sister who prefers not to read can't live without a laptop? Seriously?), all I can say is thank whatever-deity-you-believe-in that I don't do Christmas.

So no problem there. And for Hanuka, the kids get small things from the dollar store. We never started the whole "let's see if we can top everyone else with the presents we give", so there is no problem with this.

However, I do alternative giving to homeless people. I don't like giving money, since I don't want to pay for booze/drugs, but instead I'll go into a nearby store, buy a few sandwiches, juice and energy bars, and give those instead.

I have done a few alternative things:

My kids are making a handprint calendar for the grandparents. There is a little ryhme for every month then we paint their hand and make it look like a pumpkin, apple, fish etc. To finish it up we'll add photos from the year. It's really cute and whole lot more work than buying them something they don't really need.

I made a mix of my favorite preschool songs for a gift for my co-teacher.

I guess that's it. We bought a few restuarant gift cards and I'm buying my mom a bouquet of flowers but that is not really alternative.

I rarely buy Christmas gifts. In my family it isn't necessary. We usually just get together and eat good food, drink and have fun.

I have done the following though:

• homemade cookies, usually Christmas shapes and decorated. To whoever.
• framed photographs. To grandparents.
• activity together, horseback riding, snowboarding, sleigh ride, or something of that sort. To my now 13 year old niece. This year I might take her snowshoeing.

I love the idea of excursions or things to do - i've done this for my mom who buys everything she wants for herself.  Last year I got her tickets to the Tim Burton exhibit that was in town and she LOVED it.

This year my sister asked me to buy her entry into a half marathon (her first) which I would do with her. I think it's an awesome gift and I am more than happy to do that for her.  I've done this for mother's day as well, where i pay entry for my mom and I to do a 5k that's local to her and we walk that before we go out for the big brunch.  It's nice that it is also a way to spend time together.  I know you can't do anything with it on Christmas day but it's still giving.

I love the idea of the museum pass - i might think of that for my BIL/SIL family next year - they also enjoy that kind of thing.