Simplify the Holidays

The holiday season is here. I want to give a big pitch on going simple on presents and on activity. Since we are trying to educate our children to be “deeply connected to themselves, humanity, and the planet,” as stated in Running River’s vision statement, why don’t we carry that education into the holiday season?

Last week in our all school council, we asked the children what they most looked forward to during this time of year. They ALL talked about time with family. Only ONE child mentioned opening presents, but that was along side spending time with his parents. They excitedly spoke about skating, sledding, cooking, having relatives come and going to visit relatives. Some of the children talked about their Advent calendars, but these were ones that were custom made by parents! Inside the windows were sometimes small chocolate, and other times experiences, like going out to get a steamer with dad, or making cookies with mom. What children remember and look forward to the most is the time of connection – experiencing love and togetherness. I think if we all look back, what would stand out for us would be the same. So, why so much emphasis on what we buy for them?

We don’t think enough about what we model at the holiday times. When we buy children all kinds of presents, many of which are useless, what are we telling them? That we love them? I’m not saying not to give gifts on holidays. I am recommending to think about how many and what to give. There is a book out, “The Hundred Dollar Holiday.” Sounds interesting! Only spending $100 for a family? I haven’t read it, but you can preview it on Amazon. You can also give one really quality gift that you know your child would use for a long time, and that would last. Like a bike, or an easel with paints. I know families that don’t give any gifts, and take the money and go on a family vacation.

I have heard some parents say, “I don’t want to deprive my child, or disappoint my child by not giving them a lot of gifts.” I think that the biggest gift we can give our children is quality time doing things together. But we are giving them another gift as well – the gift of presence and the deep nourishment of simple joys. When we make this a family value, we go against the advertising industry and our empty consumer culture and realign ourselves with reality. At the end of the day, do we want our children to go to bed with more things to own, or with a heart full from love and affection?

What about giving money as a family to an organization like Heifer International http://www.heifer.org/ourwork/our-work? If you have never heard of it, please go to their web site. As a family you can choose a meaningful gift for children and families around the world to receive training and animal gifts that help them become self-reliant. When we give to organizations like this one, we teach our children that “it is in giving that we receive.” There are other organizations as well. Two of our RR alumni parents started a non-profit called One School at a Time. They have personally gone to Uganda to work with schools there. They pick one school at a time to help, and the money goes directly to the school. They also help sponsor children who can not pay school fees, since in Uganda school is not free. Their web site is http://1schoolatatime.org/. Running River has supported this organization for 7 years.

As time goes on, and Running River becomes a stronger community of committed teachers, parents and children, it is becoming clearer and clearer to me that education must reach into all facets of our thinking and living. When we really listen to what is being told to us by scientists about the effects of consumerism and unbridled growth on our planet, we feel the huge responsibility to raise our children to enter into a global consciousness. What we buy, how we live, what we do with our time….it can create an environment of love and respect for our planet that our children will feel and inherit from us.

So, try simplifying this holiday season. Buy less, buy with quality, and give to others in need. Spend more time with your children doing simple things together. Here is one more link to a web site with lots of ideas on how to go simple, as well as links with ideas for gifts that are globally responsible: http://www.newdream.org/programs/beyond-consumerism/consuming-consciously/simplify-the-holidays 

Happy Holidays…to one and to all.

Nancy