Make This Your Best Holiday Season Ever

Parents seem to be lavishing toys and things on their children in ever expanding volume, especially for a holiday. Consciously or subconsciously—people are attempting to fill a void. The reason for that void is unique to each person, however, void or not when parents over indulge their children in an attempt to fill their void, the child pays a price.

The price can become:

• a belief of entitlement—it is owed to me. The child will have unrealistic expectations from friends, spouse, co-workers, bosses, the government and society.
• a sense that things are more important than emotional connections to others. Thus, the child believes that feeling good about oneself is derived through acquiring things.
• a sense that life is complete if one has the latest and greatest thing—this shallow sense of oneself leaves one with a deep longing for something more. That something more is Peace of Mind, Spiritual Wholeness and Emotional Connectedness. However, they have no reference point to achieve it, therefore, they continue to use things to provide—albeit temporary—emotional fulfillment.
• a life-long sense of emptiness.

The Center for a New American Dream reports that 76 percent of Americans believe children are too materialistic. However, ironically the majority of parents continue to indulge children with things. The .

There is hope if parents commit to focus on ‘giving’ instead of ‘getting.’

• Give to Charity. Involve your child in giving back to the community. Volunteer at organizations where you can include your child. Take gifts to a ‘toys for children’ drive. Explain what the ‘toys for children’ drive is about.
• Give gifts to family and friends that can be enjoyed as a family, instead of individual gifts. There are many games for 4 players or more—thus, you are not only giving a gift you are promoting family togetherness.
• Homemade Gifts create multiple benefits—you and your child can work together to make gifts for cousins, uncles, aunts, grandparents and friends. Not only are they learning a valuable skill, you are spending valuable time together. Is there a more rewarding and fruitful way to multitask? Also, you will spread the concept to everyone who receives your gift. My children and I made decorated cookies and ornaments for family and their friends. They were thrilled when they received compliments and the next year people asked—Are you giving those delicious cookies this year? What a wonderful legacy we created. You can too.

Your child is inundated with promotional messages for a million ‘must haves.’ However, you and they can avoid these insidious subliminal messages. Tell your child that the ads are intended to create a ‘want’ versus ‘need’ concept to sell them something. When your child asks for the latest toy advertised on TV, magazine or newspaper, ask a few thought-provoking questions. Do you think you need it? What prompts you to think you need it? Do you think it will work the same way it worked on TV? Also, be sure to point out how disappointed he/she was if you purchased something advertised on TV and it was a dud in comparison to the commercial. I found that to be my best ally with my children. Only one such dud item is enough to convince your child that advertisements are geared to compel you to buy something. Another powerful ally is restricting the most offensive programs and watch public television stations, DVDs or taped programs without the commercials. These restrictions won’t harm your child, however, you will teach them an important lesson—to question and to think for him/herself.

Make this your best holiday season ever—host a party for family, friends and/or neighbors. To make it easier for you have everyone bring their favorite holiday dish and a holiday story to share with everyone. This teaches children how other families celebrate holidays and will no doubt enrich their own sense of what the holidays mean.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Author, Life Coach and Inspirational Leader specializes in: Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. www.drdorothy.net

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