THANK YOU for watching!! We are grateful for you! You can see our entire Simple Christmas Playlist here: cli.re/simple-christmas Looking forward to hearing about your favorite tips to keep the holidays organized, too! - Dawn
I totally agree! Here is something my husband and myself do with children from church. We pick out an elderly person to do a 12 days before Christmas. We start 12 nights before Christmas. We pick up a couple of different children from church every night. We go to the elderly persons house. The children run and sneak the gift at the front door. The first night maybe 12 candy canes, next night might be 11 tea bags, next night might be a nativity set with 10 pieces and so on. Christmas morning they wake up to a poinsettia. The children can never tell they were the ones doing it. It allows the children to do something without expecting something in return. We have been doing this for about 25 years and the children still talk about it and so do the adults. PS. I know you mention shopping at Target. Not trying to get in a political war or anything. Just wanted you to know they do not support our military. I did not know if you knew that. Thanks again for inspiring me!
The Christmas I remember (I was 10) My mom knew of a single mom with 4 kids. The woman was an LPN and working hard with no support from ex husband. 1972 My dad took the woman’s car and had 4 new tires put on. My mom shopped for gifts. We delivered to their apartment a live Christmas tree, ornaments and many wrapped gifts. My mom gave the mom a $100.00. The children were so excited. We left them to decorate their tree as a family. I never saw those kids except for that one day. Many years later when I was an adult a woman came over to me. She was one of the children grown up. She remembered me because of my last name. She recalled what that day meant to her family. My heart was so touched. Sorry so long, but I wanted to share this story about my parents. My dad died in October I’m really missing him tonight.
Similar story. My friend’s husband had heart surgery. (Don). In our fellowship group, one of the gal’s daughter (age 7-8) made a card for him. She addressed it to Dawn. So several of now address cards to him as Dawn as well. 🤪
Many years ago, I was alone at Christmas, recently separated from my first husband. I felt so alone and forgotten. One morning, a few days before Christmas, the doorbell rang. I was too depressed to go to the door. So I waited until the person left. When I eventually opened the door, I discovered that someone had left me a little gift basket. The contents were simple: a jar of homemade jam, some chocolate, a gift card to my favourite coffee place, a little card, etc. but the impact was PROFOUND! So many people feel forgotten at Christmas. My life is certainly better some 20 years later but every year I watch those around me closely and I make up several gift baskets for people going through a rough time (the last few years it has been someone recently widowed). Every Christmas Eve, my husband and I get in the car and deliver them. It is definitely my greatest joy at Christmas...and it beats anything I would ever find for myself under the tree. We have so much in North America. There are so many ways and opportunities that we can give to those around us who might be hurting, if we will only take the time to "see".
As a retired teacher i liked receiving gifts. My favorite however was a picture of the student with a letter on the back telling me how I helped her child. I still have it after 30 years.
I so agree! I am also a retired teacher. I have in my office a thank you note from a former student. The 7th grader who wrote that is now a wonderful young man. The notes are treasured. Teachers so often feel underappreciated by students, parents, administration.
yes we teachers have a little file of joys like these! my fav is a letter a high school girl wrote me when they had "boring sub" in my class and how she missed me because "you make school less boring" 👍😂👍
For several years, my husband’s side of the family decided to choose a family each year for Christmas (you can get family’s info through Salv Army here). Instead of exchanging amongst ourselves, we all shopped for this family getting wants and needs. Then we’d get together and wrap. Praying for each recipient. Then before delivering, we’d buy a whole Christmas dinner plus eggs, milk & bread. If there was a baby or toddler in the house, we’d buy diapers too. Delivered as a family (which was a little overwhelming for them sometimes!). We loved those years of doing that. The best, most rewarding Christmas’ were those years.
Dawn, I have to tell you that whenever I am out shopping now, I hear your voice in my head and it’s saying, “Put that back, you don’t need it, you’ll regret it later and then feel guilty and it’s just more inventory to manage!” So thank you for all of your great tips and advice and saving me from more useless and unnecessary purchases!!
Something we did for Christmas for our kids was to get them 3 gifts (kinda like Jesus got). The 3 gifts were for 1) Mind 2) Body 3) Soul. The $ amount didn't matter - they got 3 gifts and 3 gifts only. AND we had a birthday cake for Jesus that was in the shape of the cross because the cross was the GREATEST GIFT we've ever received.
Virginia i absolutely LOVE these ideas!!! the 3 gifts and what they were for AND the cake for Jesus, AWESOME! Could you please give me some examples of what the gifts were for the Mind, Body and Soul. Thanks in advance.
@@WildSisters03 Sure, for the MIND it was usually a book something to get them thinking. The BODY, a piece of clothing, and for the SOUL it would be specific to that child's preferences. For example, my oldest son was very physical and would want something that would make him move his body - a bike, a ball, frisbee, etc. My daughter wanted something girly, accessories for her hair or jewelry. My youngest son wanted something music oriented. It could be a CD or one year we got him a drum set. Just depended on the budget and the age of the child that year.
@@WildSisters03 You are very welcome. My kids are now 33, 31, and 29. Out on their own and have a sense of what's truly valuable in life. So proud of them.
I'm trying to be a minimalist so I did my holiday shopping early... Which gave me time to do returns when I realized I made a few impulsive purchases! Don't be afraid to make returns folks! -President of Tom's Fan Club
I started sewing this year so my gifts will be handmade and it has really lowered the stress level. I also found God this year and that has really changed the way I feel about the season.
I knitted scarves a few year's ago for my niece's,they loved them.That's the only thing I can knit lol.They asked me , can I do that again in pastel colours,it will take me around a year to do them all hehe.
Please call those in your circle who live alone, work long hours alone, or have spouses who are deployed or travel for work. Being alone during this pandemic is tough even for someone like me who has spent most of her life living on her own. I have always been able to interract at work, etc. Now, I am working from home. I practically beg my friends and family to talk via zoom of go for a walk so that I can see someone face to face. I have been very intentional about connecting. I even make sure I have at least 2 face to face conversations planned on my calendar every week. Otherwise, I might go crazy. Yes, I have chosen to live alone, but I did not chose this. A Facebook 'how are you' or 'just checking in' does not suffice. Phone. Zoom. Meet on the back patio. Go for a walk with them. Thanks for listening, and thank you, Dawn for this TH-cam channel! Kathleen
Amen. I always told my children the true meaning of Christmas. Now I talk to my grandchildren about the true meaning also. It’s not about a lot of gifts.
When our kids were little we asked their grandparents to give them experiences instead of lots of stuff. They have taken the kids to the theater, the zoo and many other places. This past year their grandfather passed away unexpectedly but the kids had so many experiences with him they can look back on.
❤️🙏🏼 Priceless. I’m so happy that your children had that time with their grandfather before he passed. Even when they’re older they’ll treasure those memories more than any gift they would have been given. I had one grandmother who cared little for me and another grandmother who spend loads of time with me. I miss THAT grandmother every single day.
Yes! I cherish the times I spend alone with my grandma. For our birthdays she would take us to lunch wherever we wanted (just my sister or myself). We would do school shopping with us sisters together but our solo birthday lunches with Nana has always been a highlight of the year. As a sibling it felt so special to just be with her by yourself
We simplified gift giving with our kids by telling them "Jesus was born and he got three presents. If its good enough for Jesus, its good enough for you." So they would make their list (had to be finalized by the first weekend of December so Santa had time to do his thing) and we would try to meet at least one of those things. Fortunately, when we were young and poor, they had grandparents to help with that "essential" list. We still use it today, with the girls and with the grandchildren.
We also did this with our kids, but one of the gifts was always something to do together after Christmas, going to a movie, cross country skiing, having a special game night etc.
You could delay the gift for teachers to after the beginning of the year -- the dreary days of Jan and Feb could be perked up by a surprise "thank you" gift when you have had a chance to replenish your gift account.
We have always just had a simple Christmas. My kids get one toy, one book and a clothing item they need from my husband and I. Treats/snacks in their stockings (sometimes art supplies) and that's it. My parents get them one gift and my grandma gives them some money that I get them something with...a toy or art supplies. BUT they have to leave the toys they no longer play with for Santa under the tree alone can bring them to a child in need. My daughter doesn't have toys left anymore (except legos) and just wants art/craft supplies since she is turning that corner into the teen years so she has spent the year giving away her toys (at her pace) so she won't need to do that this year. My son is younger so he will still put toys under the tree though he has whittled down his toys to cars, legos and stuffed animals. I enjoy the small Christmas and since my kids don't know any different (though they hear about the big Christmases their friends have) the memories they are reminded of are the fun things we do instead. Like a full day of crafting or building with legos especially since I have legos as well so we build together all day. Those are the things they love.
That is how my parents did gifts, too (toy, book, clothes). We always looked forward to the gifts from our parents, but Christmas was always centered on Jesus.
Teacher here! Homemade cookies, bread, a box of chocolates - perishables are my fav gift but I 100% agree, a note from my student is an even better gift!
Last year, my friends and I did a $0 gift exchange!! It was the best-we all took our pretty items of clothing, jewelry, or items that didn’t fit, or work for us anymore! We placed the items all on the table and took turns taking items until everyone found something they wanted from the stash-there were so many items left over we took them to a church that was going to pass them out as gifts for women in the neighborhood. We had a fun time because we were together and it brought us joy to see our items bringing someone else happiness. Nobody left with something they didn’t want-because they got to choose.
One year all the students in my daughter's grade 7 class got together and bought their teacher a goat! The goat was actually presented to a struggling family in poor country. There are various charities that arrange this. Everyone really enjoyed this gift.
I'm trying to only give "consumables" this year. Homemade peanut brittle is most requested. As far as store-bought, I'm assembling kitchen-type gifts from Amazon. I don't know how to post links, but the items that I've ordered are Scrub-Wows, Worlds Best Dish Cloths, Mrs. Myers dish soap and hand soap. Dish towels from Dollar General are also cute to add. I know it's not very thoughtful, but it IS very useful.
I think this is fantastic! I'm in need of new dish cloths and towels, but those are the things that always get pushed out of the budget in favor of something more urgent. I say, give those things with pride!! You know they will be used and not contributing to someone else's clutter. Fantastic idea!
It IS smile 😃 thoughtful and useful ... Idea on put a note in the gift🎁 that says I pray 🙏 this takes a tiny bit of stress out of your cleaning...praying Jesus gives you aneasy yoke as you keep your home clean and organized this year.
Oh my gosh I LOVE this!!! I wish our family would do this for us. This will be the 4th year asking for a minimal cmas. And the 4th they dont. They have gotten better!!! But it stresses me out knowing they are spending $ on us they truly can't afford. If they would do something useful like towels or cleaning items I would be so grateful and feel less stressed about their budget. (My parents are the biggest culprits, and yes I do know what their budget is).
What a quality mom you have. A class act...it's important to help others and sometimes not to do it in secret as mothers are apt to do... It's good for the kids to see us helping. What a happy soul story ❤️
I would LOVE a world with no Christmas gift giving. It just adds so much unnecessary stress & pressure. That is not the reason for the season. God Bless You!! I love your videos. Thank you for saying what so many are afraid to say! ♥️
What more could I possibly add to this video?!? NOTHING! Dawn, you're spot on, and I so love your tender heart! (At this point, I can tell when you're going to tear up...you're so compassionate!) Another great video!!! 🥰
I agree with folks getting too many or too expensive gifts. I am a grandmother and I have been bad about giving way too much to the grandchildren and children. I am trying to scale back. I always feel like "yuck" after all the gifts are opened because there are too many and the kids don't even really look satisfied after or all that happy. I have been letting them know that this year is going to be different and not as many gifts. I spend time and money on them all year long, going out for meals, bowling, etc. so Christmas does not need to be so much. Thank you for your videos
You are 100% right about the excesses of Christmas. My daughter is a teacher and I’m going to show her this video. She will agree with you about the gifts that she receives. It’s the little notes and pictures that her students make for her that she cherishes. I’m so glad you brought this up.
Amen. I still have a box of these letters and hand drawn pictures. I actually re read them every now and then. I retired almost 20 years ago. The many gifts I was given ...I re gifted. By the way...picture this...the sad faces of the children who do NOT have a gift to give the teacher when they see other kids giving gifts.
the expectation to give a gift to a teacher seems odd to me. not that they are not appreciated but your not on their list and they don't want or need of expect 30 or 100 or more gifts a year. even if they get ten that's a bit much. unless you are care single with one kid a teacher wouldn't ant you to feel pressured to give it your budget was $100.
My daughter and I went to a place were we could paint a mug and put different stuff on it and the store heated so it could be usable. Her teacher loved it and it was something nice for her and a day out for me and my daughter.
@@gettintherejanice6216 - I agreed that it’s odd. I’m 37 and I don’t ever remember anyone giving gifts to teachers like they do now. Maybe it was more subtle then. I’m sure Pinterest and Facebook have raised people’s expectations too.
I always had that empty feeling after the gifts were all done. I can actually remember crying alone in my room after opening everything This video is spot on Dawn. I am going to focus on the time together even more this year!
My favorite memory of Christmas was baking cookies with my mom. My son is turning 3 and already shows interest in helping me bake or cook and I am excited to do those things with him. For gifts we had a family member at the beginning of the year who was cleaning out all the aged out toys and gave them all to us. So I put some that looked in good condition aside for Christmas, and I’m so glad! He’s going to be 3 and won’t know the difference and saved us so much money because the only thing we bought was a bike and helmet for him. I also went through his toys and packed away all the toys geared for age 1-2, not only so he has less but he has a brother due just after Christmas. So I’ll use them for his 1yr and 2yr. Not only saves us money but that really cuts down on all the toys accumulating over the years.
Without reading the love languages book I know I'm not a gift person. I value time or a helping hand around the house more than any gift . I make my own cards ( i have way more than I need , but it's also my side hustle... so? ) and I have been making an effort to customize each one this year to fit each person. I've mailed out " I miss you , hello, snarky COVID , and numerous holiday cards this year and everyone was so thrilled I took time to send them something. Awhile back I even taped blank cards/envelopes to friends doors so they could send them to friends or loved ones... made a wacky fb post and live about it and it was a big hit. I really feel it's just letting someone know you thought of them and care about them and money can't buy that.
I love that you’ve put your feelings and thoughts right out there. That’s one of the many reasons I enjoy your videos and your channel-you are honest and straightforward but always considerate of others that may not have the same views. I agree entirely with what you discussed but love that you always remind people that they can choose what works for them because we’re all different and define simple living in our own unique ways. Thank you for all your work and inspiration!
Preach girl! If I could, I'd skip all gifts this year. Someone mentioned today that we need to start early with our Amazon orders cuz they are going to be swamped. Well, I don't need that stress. Maybe we'll just bake cookies and call it a day, lol.
Handwritten notes to a teacher are the best! We really just want our *students* to take a moment and care about us- little note or small gift means a lot. It’s not about what parents have the most money.
Hi from the UK 👋 I love this. All of it. I completely agree that Christmas should be about spending time with the people you love doing lovely things and not about the gifts.
Dawn I’m in tears thanking the Lord and the wisdom He has given you in this matter and all the comments about people truly thinking of the reason for the season! Thank you so much for being a light in this dark season!
This was awesome! I am also all about the kids with simple gifts. Getting the tree together, decorating cookies, gingerbread houses and playing games. For our other family members it's a homemade baked good wrapped in a dish towel and a card. I am a grandma and the gift of time is what counts. ps for my grandchildren we fill out a calendar with monthly activity we do together from baking, doing our nails taking a hike etc. we all look forward to it!
This is a good year for talking to the kids about those who are truly in need. Have your child pick out a toy for Toys for Tots or some other organization. The best Christmases I remember were when we made Christmas for a family in need. We all picked out our best, albeit already loved toys to give to them. We gave bags of food that would make the holiday special for them. We even gave them a decorated Christmas tree. It's the giving to others that makes you feel full.
Very true. I would rather receive a card or note of love any day. Years ago my son , early twenties, wrote my husband and I a long love letter. He wrote about how much he loved us and wanted us to know how much he appreciated us and what good parents we have been. He wrapped it in shiny red paper and put a bow on it, and put it under the tree.That was so touching and meaningful to both of us, and of course I saved it paper and all, and when I come across it in my mementos file it brings a smile to my heart..It’s a memory I treasure. I have never liked spending tons of money on gifts and feel that it was expected, we stopped buying for extended family and friends years ago and just buy for our adult children and two step grand children, that’s it. My husband and I stopped exchanging gifts years ago, we buy scratch tickets and scratch them together in the morning in front of a nice fire in our fireplace with a cup of coffee and laugh a lot. Stressless and fun....just sorry I waited so long to stop the madness💕💕 you are so smart to start at your age with your family..good job. Have a great and happy thanksgiving with lots of love.💕💕
I so agree with you...gifts need to be meaningful, not plentiful...actually spending time with each other is the best gift to give one another...Not everyone will get it, but that’s ok. Your immediate family is the most important! The holidays this year will be different, but sometimes different is good. Let’s make this Season truly about the Real Reason we celebrate...our one and only True God!
Retired teacher here - 100%agree that homemade cards from my students were the best gifts. If you want to give a gift make it a gift card for a book store or a coffee shop. No mugs or ornaments unless it is something the child saw and thought would be perfect for her teacher. I received a few “interesting” gifts over the years but if the child herself had chosen it and was so proud of it, I was truly grateful.
SO many relatives are relieved when someone in the family group finally gets up the nerve to say lets draw names instead of everyone buying gifts for everyone and no more gifts among the adults. It's a huge time, stress, and mess saver, not to mention the money that's no longer wasted of gifts that aren't really enjoyed or appreciated.
I also love the "elephant gift" gifts. (giving something ridiculous you no longer want). Provides alot of laughs. (and no, they are not obligated to keep them)
You are like the kindest friend just wanting the best for my Christmas. I absolutely loved what you said about personalizing Christmas for kids- seeing their true wants and needs beyond gifts. One way we do this is each make each other a homemade card with lots of love and time and art and words and we read those first before opening gifts. It reminds us why we are giving and just fills the room with so much love.
We can still be friends! I actually teared up a few times. As a parent of adult children, i would like nothing more than their gift of time. I wonder how often they felt the same growing up while i worked crazy long hours to provide for them.
It's interesting you talk about new traditions. I'm doing a "mama hygge" tradition this December. I've got all my holiday shopping done. I plan to have it all wrapped by December 1. I've done another round of decluttering in my home. Then I can hopefully put my feet up for the holiday season and enjoy it with my family - board games, puzzles, cookie making etc. My love language is quality time and I'm making myself available for it! Mamas so often shoulder much of the "holiday season burden". So I made a tradition to fix that lol.
Totally on the same page as you. Several of the things that my kids say they remember most was: 1) us doing "random acts of kindness". We each pick one, usually 2 a week in December. (Sometimes as small as handing a sweet card to the drive thru lady or taping $1 to vending machine or raking leaves) 2) feeding the ducks at our local boat dock 3) driving around neighborhood looking at Christmas lights while singing at the top of our lungs 3) having a scavenger hunt Christmas morning w clues leading them to their one present. 4) making construction paper snowflakes and paper chains to decorate our house 5) Advent calendar (no gifts, just a sticker or button or hole-punch for each day) Love your videos. Thanks for sharing
BRAAA-VO! Dawn for the simplifying! We stopped exchanging gifts with the older family members years ago - just the younger ones would get A gift from the grandparents. Instead, we would all make an ornament for that year. I would design the basic shape, then my dad would cut out the shapes in wood, and Mom would usually paint the bases white. Then? Sequins! Glitter glue! Faux gems! Jingle bells! Markers! Paint! Ribbons! Metallic pipe cleaners! They all started the same, but they were all different and unique then they were done! We've done lighthouses, stockings with a mouse head, cats (we all one one point had cats!), a package with a reindeer head... all kinds of things! We would put our name and the year on them. I have quite a collection of ornaments! So do my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews! And oh! the laughs and memories! Some of my best Christmas memories!
Dawn, I am 100% with you on Christmas. Years ago, yes it was after the kids were grown, my wife and I decided to forgo the gift thing. Instead we make our annual charitable donations in honor of our children. Our celebration of the season revolves around the daily advent devotion and weekly advent candle lighting. We still put up a tree and decorate for the warm memories it brings. Your story about bringing food to your classmate resonated with me. The same thing happened to us. We were delivering a Christmas basket to a family that turned out to be one of our son’s school chums. When he saw the boy he ducked down so he wouldn’t be seen. He did not want to embarrass his friend. It really stuck with him as he is a very caring and generous man.
Taping an envelope into a notebook is genius. This year we actually have an all cash Christmas budget that we set aside all year, and we have no plans to blow the budget. We really want to focus on the true celebration this season. Finally, when I was a teacher, the things that meant the most were the sincere notes. I’ve been at home with my kids for five years now, and the few mementos I have left from teaching are notes from students.
Love your heart and message about all this! When I think back to my childhood, I rarely remember specific gifts, but I can easily remember the traditions; making cookies, decorating the tree to Nat King Cole, Church choir programs/school programs, Candle light service on Christmas Eve, Popping popcorn and baking brownies to take on a family car ride to see all the neighborhood Christmas lights, Getting to go to Granny's house and see all our cousins, aunts/uncles and laugh and play all day, Monopoly marathon games with my sister, etc. I ran into my elementary school counselor a few years back. He looked just the same and he actually remembered me. He asked me if I remembered any discussions with him, etc. I couldn't BUT I remembered that he always was so kind and made everyone feel valued. That is my Grown Up Christmas wish...that my family and friends feel loved/valued. #TheyDontSellThatAtTheStore
I work in an elementary school. I've heard many teachers say they appreciate breaks and a delivered lunch much more than a traditional "gift". So- delivering your child's teacher one of their fave lunches from a restaurant + a "duty-free" lunchtime is very much appreciated!!
This is Spot on! Thank you for saying out loud what we are all thinking! Gifts don’t have to be huge, bought or break the budget to be heart felt and meaningful. Giving to others not only often fill the needs of the receiver but the giver. It doesn’t have to be a monetary gift. ❤️
For my family who live on the other side of the world sending a photo book I make during the year is a way I can make them feel less distant and more connected, it's something they can share with other people, so they can be proud and show off, it's easy to ship, it's something they look forward to, and it's not expensive. They have enough money to buy what they want and need so "stuff" doesn't make sense. I try to get the most excitement/happiness per dollar from gifts I give and if I can't give something meaningful I prefer not to give anything.
Dawn, you do a great job of boldly but graciously presenting a very practical (and much needed) point of view. The world does not need more stuff! But it does need more down time and togetherness. I love your videos!
Just so you know I actually love the way you speak (lisp and all) and find you very relaxing to listen to. It’s actually one of the main reasons I watch, second to the great minimalist content obviously!
Oh Dawn, I agree totally with all that you are saying! I almost started crying when you talked about your Mom giving the gift of Groceries. We didn’t have a lot of money either but I seen my Mom go to the Neighbors across the street to give them Groceries also! What a touching story and great memory of how your Mom is!❤️
I SO APPRECIATE Your tips and feel like I'm on the same page as you. One trick I've learned to keep gift-buying under control for our 6 neices/nephews is I have started a tradition of getting them a pair of pj's to open each Christmas. And that's it. They love it, its easier on me, and much more budget friendly vs buying a bunch of toys. Thanks, once again, for another great video.
My sister loves all things Christmas, I never have!!! Thank-you! I am still looking for new ideas to get into the spirit. We adopted a family one year and secretly dropped at their front door....it felt awesome!
Hey, dentist here...I just want to say I love your videos! Also, the best tip I give my patients who need to retrain their tongue so they don't lisp is to practice counting from 60 to 70 out loud over and over again, so their tongue relearns where to touch the teeth so it sounds normal. Sixty, sixty-one, sixty-two, etc. has a ton of S's and T's which are the hardest. Hope that helps! You're awesome!!
Your Mom's kind and generous gift to the neighbors is such a good example of giving and sharing. I also grew up on a farm (in NZ) and the people in the area really cared for one another. Liked your ideas for planning the Christmas season.
We decided to invest in a family season pass for the zoo instead of individual presents. With two teenagers and a baby, we want to be able to spend time with them building memories. But I wasn't sure how to break the news to them about only getting that and a few stocking stuffers. Thank you for this video because now I know what to say!
Your videos are so full of wonderful ideas, love and laughter. They brighten my days. I had to tell my in-laws no more stuff for our son. He's never cared about things and we just plain ran out of room. I've always liked the 4 gift idea: something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read.
As a teacher, I love getting handmade cards, pictures of the kids, and baked goods! Even a dollar store bag of candy & a note makes me feel so loved! Yes, I've received some amazing gifts, but just being remembered warms my heart!
Thank you for this video. You have great suggestions. As a teacher I just want you to know that I absolutely do not want my students to give me gifts, especially if it is something they cannot afford. You are absolutely right that teachers appreciate the kind notes. Even during these interesting times, I feel the kind note is even more needed. So I think it is ok to put the teachers at the bottom of the Christmas list of gifts and instead write a kind note to a teacher. Having recently found your videos I have started the journey to declutter my home. I am on a throwaway kick and it feels so good. Tossing the 2-foot tall stack of scrapbooking magazines alone made me feel better. Clearing off the clutter on my desk has made things even better. I am a beginner but feel this will be something I continue, as I see things that need to be tossed, I quickly toss them and do not look back. Especially the items I had forgotten, I know I will forget them again. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.
You are so adorable! You are worried people would reject the idea of replacing purchases with (to me) the true spirit of Christmas! Giving of yourself is a gift we give as well as receive. Our spirits are lifted, I don't care who you are, when you make someone feel special and they smile from their heart! Happy Holiday's to you and your families.
We downsized gifts a few years back and it is great. Now for my sons teacher I ask him what stationary she shares with the class that is running out. I then make up a small collection of things I know she needs to replace. It means she isn’t spending her cash on consumables for the class and still getting a gift from us. We included a nice note in a card too.
I loved your story of how your mother bought Christmas dinner for that family! It reminded me of something my mom did when I was young - probably 7 or 8. She heard of a family who had no money for Christmas. Like your mom, she purchased food for them, but there was no money for her to also buy toys for the children. She suggested to my sister and I that we go through our toys, and pick some of our nice toys that we rarely played with to give to those children. I had a doll that I absolutely loved, and I kept this doll very pristine because I loved it so much. It was the nicest toy I had, so I gave it to my mom. She actually had tears in her eyes because she knew what that doll meant to me. Sorry to be so long with this story...but the lesson I learned that Christmas is something I need to share. My mother's example taught me that we should always give our best, no matter what we are doing; we should always give with love in our hearts, no matter what it is that we are giving; and we should always help others, even if we do not have a lot for ourselves. I hope you and your family have a beautiful holiday season, filled with peace, laughter and the joy of giving from the heart.
THANK YOU DAWN!!! I have grown to hate Christmas because of the overwhelm, fakeness and waste. You inspire me to TAKE BACK CHRISTMAS and make it align with my values. Being clear about what is meaningful and being organized will allow that to happen.
I told my 9 year old that I wasn’t gonna gifts this year because it was Jesus’s birthday not ours and she said “ok!” I was shocked she didn’t even care! I am planning on giving everyone a sweatshirt and maybe a Hooverboard for all the kids to share (they have fun on it. We have 9 kids all together so it so easy to spend a ton of money and no one getting very much. I definitely like experiences and quality time over gifts. I have cut way back on decorating, only one tote for Christmas. We always get a tree from the mountains so just save ornaments and a nativity scene. Life is so much more simple now - we have 11 at home and my house stays way cleaner then 5 years ago when I had more stuff. So thanks to you and Darci for a peaceful home!
We love you Dawn! Thank you for putting this wonderful video out. I totally agree that a gift does not have to be super expensive to be thoughtful. If it comes from the heart.......that is what matters. "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Aesop
I'm doing the opposite this year - I had convinced my family to go to a name draw system - only had to purchase and only received one gift every year! It has worked great for the last few years! In the last 18 months, though, three of my grandparents have passed away and one uncle became estranged along with his part of the family. So this year I'm going back to getting a little something for everyone. The family has been cut in half and I'm missing everyone badly.
People who have gifts as their love language REALLY love it when you tell them that something reminded you of them. They love to be unique in your thoughts.
My friend recommended your channel and this video is the first one that I watched. I love it! We decided a few years ago to simplify Christmas and it's been so great. In the past we've only given our kids 1 gift plus the stocking stuffers and it has really helped us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. This year is going to look even different than before. We rented a house in the mountains about an hour from us and that is our only gift to everyone. No Santa gifts either. We're just going to make memories together for a few days and I'm so looking forward to it!
I have been a huge fan of consumable gifts. With all Bdays done this year at home with less fan-fair, we are all looking forward to an intimate holiday season. Each family member gets 4 gifts, one you need, one you want, one that is eatable, and of course one that relates to a hobby. (example- paints, crafts paper, video game, or a cooking gadget) keeping it simple and personal. And yes got some goodies for the teachers too (even with remote learning this year, they are a HUGE part of my children's development)
Gifts that combine the "thing" and the thought are my favorite to give. Examples - when my Dad, with his sweet tooth had to change his eating habits - I gave him a year of a homemade "approved" dessert once a month. I give my father in law different jars of my homemade jam and homemade biscotti. The other year my mother in law was admiring a quilt I was working on...so I made her the same pattern in fabric to match her décor - she cried. I gave my Mom a cord of firewood this year....she was SO HAPPY and thinks of me every fire she lights! :)
I have always tried to teach my kids that the best gift is the feelings that come with giving. We don’t have much but I know it’s still more than others may have.
A wonderful video Dawn. Thank you for your time and wise words. The greatest ‘gift’ is giving your time to loved ones, family, friends and people who simply need a little companionship.... The ‘love language’ to me is the generosity of kindness. And we ALL need some of that, at the moment.. Bless you and your beautiful family.
Oh Dawn.... I agree 100%!!! When my kids were growing up.... they loved their gifts... but it was the activities and time spent together, that they talked about the most afterwards!!!! I also think it is very important for our kids to see us doing things for other people.... we don't announce it to the public... but we also want to be that good example to our kids, teaching them to help others as well, so they can become giving adults one day!
We have had a long tradition of spending so much time opening gifts we make cinnamon rolls for a quick breakfast. Today seeing the 3 gifts and a stocking stuffer I realized “oh my gosh. I think I’ll have time to cook breakfast this year!” I realized if I don’t Plan something everyone might just stare at each other wondering why we’re done so soon. Then I thought, how cool that I CAN plan something instead of being exhausted and spending the whole day building things until lunch. Minimalism has made a huge change for me. I’m so grateful for your videos.
Love your videos! You are 100% right, we as humans have so much "stuff"! This year has been such a challenge in so many ways. Christmas will be different. I was just thinking about years ago when my daughter was about 16 she took a small shiny box, and small pieces of paper, on the pieces of paper she wrote different attributes about me, I still have that Gift! It isn't the price of the Gift, it is the thought that is put into it. I truly hope that we all have learned to cherish our Loved one and Friends.
I'm a teacher and I ALWAYS travel for the holidays. This year I FINALLY have my act together and have completed the routine car maintenance needed before a road trip such as oil change, tires rotated, battery checked, new wipers and my winter car gear checked and replaced if necessary (jumper cables, new windshield cleaning fluid etc.). Often December is just as busy for me as August or May and I feel a HUGE sense of relief by having my car ready to go as much as possible before the actual trip. Yes, life happens and sometimes last minute car repairs come up, but having as much of this done well in advance has made me feel so much better. In years past I procrastinated these task and compounded my holiday "to do list" and stress.
As a teacher my favourite gifts are a thank-you note/card from parents or a drawing from the students; it makes the year of hard work feel appreciated 😀
Thank you for your series of videos on simplifying Christmas. We've always given our 3 children way too many gifts. Inevitably someone would feel slighted among the excess and my husband would get so discouraged. This year, after pursuing a minimalist life for almost 2 years and with the pandemic, we decided to change it up. Our kids are 19-24 and have full or part time jobs. We are adding money to their IRA's and the projection is for it to grow by 15x by the time they retire. Then, each of us will buy each person a well thought out gift. Buy 4 gifts, receive 4 gifts. We talked to them about it and they are all really excited. We are planning to Zoom with our out of town family and play minute to win it games with each other. I've started a list of fun things to do together while they are home on break. I'm actually really excited for Christmas this year! Thanks for all the great advice!
I'm taking your words to heart. What is important to me and to my family? I need to "schedule" time together. I'm feeling a responsibility to not over-schedule our lives going here and there. Thanks for the reminders that people need a phone call or something in the mail or something thoughtful that may or may not include a gift.
The story of your mother delivering food to a neighbor was so heartwarming to me, it truly is those gifts for others in need that bring me the most joy. Thank you f I r sharing your heart. I think you are on to something great!
Dont apologize Dawn. Love your heart and where you are coming from on this. You remember your mothers actions, not a specific gift, as a childhood Christmas memory! Great perspective
THANK YOU for watching!! We are grateful for you! You can see our entire Simple Christmas Playlist here: cli.re/simple-christmas Looking forward to hearing about your favorite tips to keep the holidays organized, too! - Dawn
Thank you Dawn! 💗🎄
I totally agree!
Here is something my husband and myself do with children from church. We pick out an elderly person to do a 12 days before Christmas. We start 12 nights before Christmas. We pick up a couple of different children from church every night. We go to the elderly persons house. The children run and sneak the gift at the front door. The first night maybe 12 candy canes, next night might be 11 tea bags, next night might be a nativity set with 10 pieces and so on. Christmas morning they wake up to a poinsettia. The children can never tell they were the ones doing it. It allows the children to do something without expecting something in return. We have been doing this for about 25 years and the children still talk about it and so do the adults.
PS. I know you mention shopping at Target. Not trying to get in a political war or anything. Just wanted you to know they do not support our military. I did not know if you knew that.
Thanks again for inspiring me!
You are just the best! Loved every single minute of this! 🤗
@@22ERICSHELLY What a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas!
I love you too, Dawn. Thank you for being you. 🙏🏻
The Christmas I remember (I was 10) My mom knew of a single mom with 4 kids. The woman was an LPN and working hard with no support from ex husband. 1972 My dad took the woman’s car and had 4 new tires put on. My mom shopped for gifts. We delivered to their apartment a live Christmas tree, ornaments and many wrapped gifts. My mom gave the mom a $100.00. The children were so excited. We left them to decorate their tree as a family. I never saw those kids except for that one day. Many years later when I was an adult a woman came over to me. She was one of the children grown up. She remembered me because of my last name. She recalled what that day meant to her family. My heart was so touched. Sorry so long, but I wanted to share this story about my parents. My dad died in October I’m really missing him tonight.
What a lovely story. Thank you for sharing. I will pray for your dad.
Your story got me choked up. Such sweet kindness. 💕💕
Losing a great Dad is really tough. I'm so sorry.
What a wonderful story. So sorry about your dad💕
So beautiful!
My house is quarantined this week and I was giving my daughter a spelling test and one of the words was Dawn. She says like from the Minimal Mom?
Thats cute
Similar story. My friend’s husband had heart surgery. (Don). In our fellowship group, one of the gal’s daughter (age 7-8) made a card for him. She addressed it to Dawn. So several of now address cards to him as Dawn as well. 🤪
That's the best thing I've heard all day!! 😊
😂😍👏🏼 that’s funny 😆
@@emilasmith4279 🤣 love it! 👏🏼 hope ‘Dawn’ is on the mend!
Many years ago, I was alone at Christmas, recently separated from my first husband. I felt so alone and forgotten. One morning, a few days before Christmas, the doorbell rang. I was too depressed to go to the door. So I waited until the person left. When I eventually opened the door, I discovered that someone had left me a little gift basket. The contents were simple: a jar of homemade jam, some chocolate, a gift card to my favourite coffee place, a little card, etc. but the impact was PROFOUND! So many people feel forgotten at Christmas. My life is certainly better some 20 years later but every year I watch those around me closely and I make up several gift baskets for people going through a rough time (the last few years it has been someone recently widowed). Every Christmas Eve, my husband and I get in the car and deliver them. It is definitely my greatest joy at Christmas...and it beats anything I would ever find for myself under the tree. We have so much in North America. There are so many ways and opportunities that we can give to those around us who might be hurting, if we will only take the time to "see".
Lady be blessed.
As a retired teacher i liked receiving gifts. My favorite however was a picture of the student with a letter on the back telling me how I helped her child. I still have it after 30 years.
I so agree! I am also a retired teacher. I have in my office a thank you note from a former student. The 7th grader who wrote that is now a wonderful young man. The notes are treasured. Teachers so often feel underappreciated by students, parents, administration.
yes we teachers have a little file of joys like these! my fav is a letter a high school girl wrote me when they had "boring sub" in my class and how she missed me because "you make school less boring" 👍😂👍
Same here! Not retired, but love those type of non buy gifts the most.
For several years, my husband’s side of the family decided to choose a family each year for Christmas (you can get family’s info through Salv Army here). Instead of exchanging amongst ourselves, we all shopped for this family getting wants and needs. Then we’d get together and wrap. Praying for each recipient. Then before delivering, we’d buy a whole Christmas dinner plus eggs, milk & bread. If there was a baby or toddler in the house, we’d buy diapers too. Delivered as a family (which was a little overwhelming for them sometimes!). We loved those years of doing that. The best, most rewarding Christmas’ were those years.
I want to 'like' this 1,000 times!! 🥰
What a beautiful tradition!
That’s a fantastic idea!
That is a beautiful idea!
I love this! Now to get my family on board...
Dawn, I have to tell you that whenever I am out shopping now, I hear your voice in my head and it’s saying, “Put that back, you don’t need it, you’ll regret it later and then feel guilty and it’s just more inventory to manage!” So thank you for all of your great tips and advice and saving me from more useless and unnecessary purchases!!
My husband loves the idea of calling our stuff “inventory”. It’s a great way to describe it!
I find myself doing the same thing 😄😄😄👍
Yes, same here!
"More inventory to manage"
Haha me too!
Something we did for Christmas for our kids was to get them 3 gifts (kinda like Jesus got). The 3 gifts were for 1) Mind 2) Body 3) Soul. The $ amount didn't matter - they got 3 gifts and 3 gifts only. AND we had a birthday cake for Jesus that was in the shape of the cross because the cross was the GREATEST GIFT we've ever received.
Virginia i absolutely LOVE these ideas!!! the 3 gifts and what they were for AND the cake for Jesus, AWESOME! Could you please give me some examples of what the gifts were for the Mind, Body and Soul. Thanks in advance.
@@WildSisters03 Sure, for the MIND it was usually a book something to get them thinking. The BODY, a piece of clothing, and for the SOUL it would be specific to that child's preferences. For example, my oldest son was very physical and would want something that would make him move his body - a bike, a ball, frisbee, etc. My daughter wanted something girly, accessories for her hair or jewelry. My youngest son wanted something music oriented. It could be a CD or one year we got him a drum set. Just depended on the budget and the age of the child that year.
THANK YOU! I this way of gift giving for kids is genius, enjoy ur Christmas.
@@WildSisters03 You are very welcome. My kids are now 33, 31, and 29. Out on their own and have a sense of what's truly valuable in life. So proud of them.
@@JO.1203 Exactly! I don't know where I originally got the idea but SO glad someone shared it with me.
I'm trying to be a minimalist so I did my holiday shopping early... Which gave me time to do returns when I realized I made a few impulsive purchases! Don't be afraid to make returns folks!
-President of Tom's Fan Club
I finished my shopping and Thanksgiving weekend is when I normally reign in my splurges and prep for returns 🤣
I started sewing this year so my gifts will be handmade and it has really lowered the stress level. I also found God this year and that has really changed the way I feel about the season.
Love that! 💕 to a new sister!
How wonderful, God bless you and your family.
I knitted scarves a few year's ago for my niece's,they loved them.That's the only thing I can knit lol.They asked me , can I do that again in pastel colours,it will take me around a year to do them all hehe.
Yay a new sister in Christ!!!!! May this Christmas bless you and your family above and beyond what you can dream!
@@momofrex4183 Thank you for the blessings.. May you and your family feel love and blessings everyday.
Please call those in your circle who live alone, work long hours alone, or have spouses who are deployed or travel for work. Being alone during this pandemic is tough even for someone like me who has spent most of her life living on her own. I have always been able to interract at work, etc. Now, I am working from home. I practically beg my friends and family to talk via zoom of go for a walk so that I can see someone face to face. I have been very intentional about connecting. I even make sure I have at least 2 face to face conversations planned on my calendar every week. Otherwise, I might go crazy. Yes, I have chosen to live alone, but I did not chose this. A Facebook 'how are you' or 'just checking in' does not suffice. Phone. Zoom. Meet on the back patio. Go for a walk with them. Thanks for listening, and thank you, Dawn for this TH-cam channel! Kathleen
Praying. And remembering how that phone call blessed me one year 🙏 great reminder
Well said. Traditions and experiences are what we remember the most - not the "stuff".
Amen.
Amen. I always told my children the true meaning of Christmas. Now I talk to my grandchildren about the true meaning also. It’s not about a lot of gifts.
When our kids were little we asked their grandparents to give them experiences instead of lots of stuff. They have taken the kids to the theater, the zoo and many other places. This past year their grandfather passed away unexpectedly but the kids had so many experiences with him they can look back on.
❤️🙏🏼 Priceless. I’m so happy that your children had that time with their grandfather before he passed.
Even when they’re older they’ll treasure those memories more than any gift they would have been given.
I had one grandmother who cared little for me and another grandmother who spend loads of time with me. I miss THAT grandmother every single day.
Wonderful!
Yes! I cherish the times I spend alone with my grandma. For our birthdays she would take us to lunch wherever we wanted (just my sister or myself). We would do school shopping with us sisters together but our solo birthday lunches with Nana has always been a highlight of the year. As a sibling it felt so special to just be with her by yourself
We simplified gift giving with our kids by telling them "Jesus was born and he got three presents. If its good enough for Jesus, its good enough for you." So they would make their list (had to be finalized by the first weekend of December so Santa had time to do his thing) and we would try to meet at least one of those things. Fortunately, when we were young and poor, they had grandparents to help with that "essential" list. We still use it today, with the girls and with the grandchildren.
I love that idea! Thanks for sharing
What a great idea!
Thanks for sharing!
We also did this with our kids, but one of the gifts was always something to do together after Christmas, going to a movie, cross country skiing, having a special game night etc.
You could delay the gift for teachers to after the beginning of the year -- the dreary days of Jan and Feb could be perked up by a surprise "thank you" gift when you have had a chance to replenish your gift account.
We have always just had a simple Christmas. My kids get one toy, one book and a clothing item they need from my husband and I. Treats/snacks in their stockings (sometimes art supplies) and that's it. My parents get them one gift and my grandma gives them some money that I get them something with...a toy or art supplies. BUT they have to leave the toys they no longer play with for Santa under the tree alone can bring them to a child in need. My daughter doesn't have toys left anymore (except legos) and just wants art/craft supplies since she is turning that corner into the teen years so she has spent the year giving away her toys (at her pace) so she won't need to do that this year. My son is younger so he will still put toys under the tree though he has whittled down his toys to cars, legos and stuffed animals. I enjoy the small Christmas and since my kids don't know any different (though they hear about the big Christmases their friends have) the memories they are reminded of are the fun things we do instead. Like a full day of crafting or building with legos especially since I have legos as well so we build together all day. Those are the things they love.
What a wonderful tradition. Your children will remember that and pass it to their children.
I love the idea of giving Santa back the toys they don't use anymore! How fun!
What a wonderful idea to have the children leave their old toys so Santa can give them to others.🙂
Thanks❤
That is how my parents did gifts, too (toy, book, clothes). We always looked forward to the gifts from our parents, but Christmas was always centered on Jesus.
Teacher here! Homemade cookies, bread, a box of chocolates - perishables are my fav gift but I 100% agree, a note from my student is an even better gift!
Last year, my friends and I did a $0 gift exchange!! It was the best-we all took our pretty items of clothing, jewelry, or items that didn’t fit, or work for us anymore! We placed the items all on the table and took turns taking items until everyone found something they wanted from the stash-there were so many items left over we took them to a church that was going to pass them out as gifts for women in the neighborhood. We had a fun time because we were together and it brought us joy to see our items bringing someone else happiness. Nobody left with something they didn’t want-because they got to choose.
That is the best idea!!
Love this idea! How fun!
Just noting a recent discovery. Pop tarts make the most amazing gingerbread houses. They are sturdier than Graham crackers and are even snow frosted.😊
And they taste better, too!
@@nancymeister4803 they do indeed. The hardest part is not eating your building materials, 🤣
Oh thank u for this tip. Much less expensive too
Yassss! Just the excuse I need to buy the Smores flavor!! Yuuumm
One year all the students in my daughter's grade 7 class got together and bought their teacher a goat! The goat was actually presented to a struggling family in poor country. There are various charities that arrange this. Everyone really enjoyed this gift.
Heifer International?
@@susandermond9254 it might have been. Too long ago for me to remember! :)
I'm trying to only give "consumables" this year. Homemade peanut brittle is most requested. As far as store-bought, I'm assembling kitchen-type gifts from Amazon. I don't know how to post links, but the items that I've ordered are Scrub-Wows, Worlds Best Dish Cloths, Mrs. Myers dish soap and hand soap. Dish towels from Dollar General are also cute to add. I know it's not very thoughtful, but it IS very useful.
It’s very thoughtful!!! Great idea😊
I think this is fantastic! I'm in need of new dish cloths and towels, but those are the things that always get pushed out of the budget in favor of something more urgent. I say, give those things with pride!! You know they will be used and not contributing to someone else's clutter. Fantastic idea!
It is a great gift idea!
It IS smile 😃 thoughtful and useful ...
Idea on put a note in the gift🎁 that says I pray 🙏 this takes a tiny bit of stress out of your cleaning...praying Jesus gives you aneasy yoke as you keep your home clean and organized this year.
Oh my gosh I LOVE this!!! I wish our family would do this for us. This will be the 4th year asking for a minimal cmas. And the 4th they dont. They have gotten better!!! But it stresses me out knowing they are spending $ on us they truly can't afford. If they would do something useful like towels or cleaning items I would be so grateful and feel less stressed about their budget. (My parents are the biggest culprits, and yes I do know what their budget is).
What a quality mom you have. A class act...it's important to help others and sometimes not to do it in secret as mothers are apt to do... It's good for the kids to see us helping. What a happy soul story ❤️
I would LOVE a world with no Christmas gift giving. It just adds so much unnecessary stress & pressure. That is not the reason for the season. God Bless You!! I love your videos. Thank you for saying what so many are afraid to say! ♥️
What more could I possibly add to this video?!? NOTHING! Dawn, you're spot on, and I so love your tender heart! (At this point, I can tell when you're going to tear up...you're so compassionate!) Another great video!!! 🥰
Dawn: "I realized it was a classmate..."
Me: *sniff* ... *tears*
You obviously had wonderful parents with Christian morals. That was their greatest gift to their family and that has continued to the grands.
I agree with folks getting too many or too expensive gifts. I am a grandmother and I have been bad about giving way too much to the grandchildren and children. I am trying to scale back. I always feel like "yuck" after all the gifts are opened because there are too many and the kids don't even really look satisfied after or all that happy. I have been letting them know that this year is going to be different and not as many gifts. I spend time and money on them all year long, going out for meals, bowling, etc. so Christmas does not need to be so much. Thank you for your videos
You sound like a wonderfully generous grandparent. I like this mantra for buying for kids: ‘something they want, need, wear, read’.
You are 100% right about the excesses of Christmas. My daughter is a teacher and I’m going to show her this video. She will agree with you about the gifts that she receives. It’s the little notes and pictures that her students make for her that she cherishes. I’m so glad you brought this up.
Amen. I still have a box of these letters and hand drawn pictures. I actually re read them every now and then. I retired almost 20 years ago.
The many gifts I was given ...I re gifted. By the way...picture this...the sad faces of the children who do NOT have a gift to give the teacher when they see other kids giving gifts.
the expectation to give a gift to a teacher seems odd to me. not that they are not appreciated but your not on their list and they don't want or need of expect 30 or 100 or more gifts a year. even if they get ten that's a bit much. unless you are care single with one kid a teacher wouldn't ant you to feel pressured to give it your budget was $100.
My daughter and I went to a place were we could paint a mug and put different stuff on it and the store heated so it could be usable. Her teacher loved it and it was something nice for her and a day out for me and my daughter.
...and gift cards 😊
@@gettintherejanice6216 - I agreed that it’s odd. I’m 37 and I don’t ever remember anyone giving gifts to teachers like they do now. Maybe it was more subtle then. I’m sure Pinterest and Facebook have raised people’s expectations too.
I always had that empty feeling after the gifts were all done. I can actually remember crying alone in my room after opening everything
This video is spot on Dawn. I am going to focus on the time together even more this year!
I've found that the older I get, the more simple I want holidays to be.
My favorite memory of Christmas was baking cookies with my mom. My son is turning 3 and already shows interest in helping me bake or cook and I am excited to do those things with him. For gifts we had a family member at the beginning of the year who was cleaning out all the aged out toys and gave them all to us. So I put some that looked in good condition aside for Christmas, and I’m so glad! He’s going to be 3 and won’t know the difference and saved us so much money because the only thing we bought was a bike and helmet for him.
I also went through his toys and packed away all the toys geared for age 1-2, not only so he has less but he has a brother due just after Christmas. So I’ll use them for his 1yr and 2yr. Not only saves us money but that really cuts down on all the toys accumulating over the years.
Your Mom is such a sweetheart!! She raised some amazing human beings!
Teacher here! I LOVE getting notes from my students. I keep them and I have read back through them so many times this year; they keep me going!
Without reading the love languages book I know I'm not a gift person. I value time or a helping hand around the house more than any gift . I make my own cards ( i have way more than I need , but it's also my side hustle... so? ) and I have been making an effort to customize each one this year to fit each person. I've mailed out " I miss you , hello, snarky COVID , and numerous holiday cards this year and everyone was so thrilled I took time to send them something. Awhile back I even taped blank cards/envelopes to friends doors so they could send them to friends or loved ones... made a wacky fb post and live about it and it was a big hit. I really feel it's just letting someone know you thought of them and care about them and money can't buy that.
4 gifts for the kids
Something they want
Something the need
Something to play with
And
Something to read!
I love that you’ve put your feelings and thoughts right out there. That’s one of the many reasons I enjoy your videos and your channel-you are honest and straightforward but always considerate of others that may not have the same views. I agree entirely with what you discussed but love that you always remind people that they can choose what works for them because we’re all different and define simple living in our own unique ways.
Thank you for all your work and inspiration!
I agree 🙂.You put your heart into what you say with humour and grace.I love your videos...they inspire and encourage me. Thank you x
Preach girl! If I could, I'd skip all gifts this year. Someone mentioned today that we need to start early with our Amazon orders cuz they are going to be swamped. Well, I don't need that stress. Maybe we'll just bake cookies and call it a day, lol.
But will people eat homemade goods during a pandemic? The schools won’t let us send any.
Handwritten notes to a teacher are the best! We really just want our *students* to take a moment and care about us- little note or small gift means a lot. It’s not about what parents have the most money.
Hi from the UK 👋 I love this. All of it. I completely agree that Christmas should be about spending time with the people you love doing lovely things and not about the gifts.
Dawn I’m in tears thanking the Lord and the wisdom He has given you in this matter and all the comments about people truly thinking of the reason for the season! Thank you so much for being a light in this dark season!
This was awesome! I am also all about the kids with simple gifts. Getting the tree together, decorating cookies, gingerbread houses and playing games. For our other family members it's a homemade baked good wrapped in a dish towel and a card. I am a grandma and the gift of time is what counts. ps for my grandchildren we fill out a calendar with monthly activity we do together from baking, doing our nails taking a hike etc. we all look forward to it!
Dawn, you sound totally normal! Don't apologize for your voice, physically or figuratively. You have great content that your viewers love. Thank you!
This is a good year for talking to the kids about those who are truly in need. Have your child pick out a toy for Toys for Tots or some other organization. The best Christmases I remember were when we made Christmas for a family in need. We all picked out our best, albeit already loved toys to give to them. We gave bags of food that would make the holiday special for them. We even gave them a decorated Christmas tree. It's the giving to others that makes you feel full.
Very true. I would rather receive a card or note of love any day. Years ago my son , early twenties, wrote my husband and I a long love letter. He wrote about how much he loved us and wanted us to know how much he appreciated us and what good parents we have been. He wrapped it in shiny red paper and put a bow on it, and put it under the tree.That was so touching and meaningful to both of us, and of course I saved it paper and all, and when I come across it in my mementos file it brings a smile to my heart..It’s a memory I treasure. I have never liked spending tons of money on gifts and feel that it was expected, we stopped buying for extended family and friends years ago and just buy for our adult children and two step grand children, that’s it. My husband and I stopped exchanging gifts years ago, we buy scratch tickets and scratch them together in the morning in front of a nice fire in our fireplace with a cup of coffee and laugh a lot. Stressless and fun....just sorry I waited so long to stop the madness💕💕 you are so smart to start at your age with your family..good job. Have a great and happy thanksgiving with lots of love.💕💕
I so agree with you...gifts need to be meaningful, not plentiful...actually spending time with each other is the best gift to give one another...Not everyone will get it, but that’s ok. Your immediate family is the most important! The holidays this year will be different, but sometimes different is good. Let’s make this Season truly about the Real Reason we celebrate...our one and only True God!
Retired teacher here - 100%agree that homemade cards from my students were the best gifts. If you want to give a gift make it a gift card for a book store or a coffee shop. No mugs or ornaments unless it is something the child saw and thought would be perfect for her teacher. I received a few “interesting” gifts over the years but if the child herself had chosen it and was so proud of it, I was truly grateful.
SO many relatives are relieved when someone in the family group finally gets up the nerve to say lets draw names instead of everyone buying gifts for everyone and no more gifts among the adults. It's a huge time, stress, and mess saver, not to mention the money that's no longer wasted of gifts that aren't really enjoyed or appreciated.
I also love the "elephant gift" gifts. (giving something ridiculous you no longer want). Provides alot of laughs. (and no, they are not obligated to keep them)
Amen
cluttering white elephant sounds great but my experience with white elephant though it is somewhat fun I really don't like what I got
You are like the kindest friend just wanting the best for my Christmas. I absolutely loved what you said about personalizing Christmas for kids- seeing their true wants and needs beyond gifts. One way we do this is each make each other a homemade card with lots of love and time and art and words and we read those first before opening gifts. It reminds us why we are giving and just fills the room with so much love.
We can still be friends!
I actually teared up a few times. As a parent of adult children, i would like nothing more than their gift of time. I wonder how often they felt the same growing up while i worked crazy long hours to provide for them.
It's interesting you talk about new traditions. I'm doing a "mama hygge" tradition this December. I've got all my holiday shopping done. I plan to have it all wrapped by December 1. I've done another round of decluttering in my home. Then I can hopefully put my feet up for the holiday season and enjoy it with my family - board games, puzzles, cookie making etc. My love language is quality time and I'm making myself available for it! Mamas so often shoulder much of the "holiday season burden". So I made a tradition to fix that lol.
This sounds awesome. Yay for you!
Same here! Gifts purchased, menus planned-now it’s time to bask in the Christmas glow!
I like your style!
Love this idea! I’ve got 12 days to get organised then 😜😂🤦🏻♀️ Haven’t bought or thought about 1 single gift.
@@Lickyknee 😊
Totally on the same page as you.
Several of the things that my kids say they remember most was:
1) us doing "random acts of kindness". We each pick one, usually 2 a week in December. (Sometimes as small as handing a sweet card to the drive thru lady or taping $1 to vending machine or raking leaves)
2) feeding the ducks at our local boat dock
3) driving around neighborhood looking at Christmas lights while singing at the top of our lungs
3) having a scavenger hunt Christmas morning w clues leading them to their one present.
4) making construction paper snowflakes and paper chains to decorate our house
5) Advent calendar (no gifts, just a sticker or button or hole-punch for each day)
Love your videos. Thanks for sharing
BRAAA-VO! Dawn for the simplifying! We stopped exchanging gifts with the older family members years ago - just the younger ones would get A gift from the grandparents. Instead, we would all make an ornament for that year. I would design the basic shape, then my dad would cut out the shapes in wood, and Mom would usually paint the bases white. Then? Sequins! Glitter glue! Faux gems! Jingle bells! Markers! Paint! Ribbons! Metallic pipe cleaners! They all started the same, but they were all different and unique then they were done! We've done lighthouses, stockings with a mouse head, cats (we all one one point had cats!), a package with a reindeer head... all kinds of things! We would put our name and the year on them. I have quite a collection of ornaments! So do my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews! And oh! the laughs and memories! Some of my best Christmas memories!
Dawn, I am 100% with you on Christmas. Years ago, yes it was after the kids were grown, my wife and I decided to forgo the gift thing. Instead we make our annual charitable donations in honor of our children. Our celebration of the season revolves around the daily advent devotion and weekly advent candle lighting. We still put up a tree and decorate for the warm memories it brings. Your story about bringing food to your classmate resonated with me. The same thing happened to us. We were delivering a Christmas basket to a family that turned out to be one of our son’s school chums. When he saw the boy he ducked down so he wouldn’t be seen. He did not want to embarrass his friend. It really stuck with him as he is a very caring and generous man.
Taping an envelope into a notebook is genius.
This year we actually have an all cash Christmas budget that we set aside all year, and we have no plans to blow the budget. We really want to focus on the true celebration this season.
Finally, when I was a teacher, the things that meant the most were the sincere notes. I’ve been at home with my kids for five years now, and the few mementos I have left from teaching are notes from students.
Love your heart and message about all this! When I think back to my childhood, I rarely remember specific gifts, but I can easily remember the traditions; making cookies, decorating the tree to Nat King Cole, Church choir programs/school programs, Candle light service on Christmas Eve, Popping popcorn and baking brownies to take on a family car ride to see all the neighborhood Christmas lights, Getting to go to Granny's house and see all our cousins, aunts/uncles and laugh and play all day, Monopoly marathon games with my sister, etc.
I ran into my elementary school counselor a few years back. He looked just the same and he actually remembered me. He asked me if I remembered any discussions with him, etc. I couldn't BUT I remembered that he always was so kind and made everyone feel valued. That is my Grown Up Christmas wish...that my family and friends feel loved/valued. #TheyDontSellThatAtTheStore
I work in an elementary school. I've heard many teachers say they appreciate breaks and a delivered lunch much more than a traditional "gift". So- delivering your child's teacher one of their fave lunches from a restaurant + a "duty-free" lunchtime is very much appreciated!!
When we put on a family Christmas skit, that's is one of my favorites ...it's cheesy but it becomes a gift of laughs
So excited to hear you quite a Jewish proverb! Love all your videos, this one especially we have the same philosophy for Hanukkah 🕎❤️
Loved the idea about taping the envelope in the spiral. No more guessing where is that receipt?
Assuming the receipt is actually placed in the envelope. That’s a crap shoot at my house.😬
This is Spot on! Thank you for saying out loud what we are all thinking! Gifts don’t have to be huge, bought or break the budget to be heart felt and meaningful. Giving to others not only often fill the needs of the receiver but the giver. It doesn’t have to be a monetary gift. ❤️
For my family who live on the other side of the world sending a photo book I make during the year is a way I can make them feel less distant and more connected, it's something they can share with other people, so they can be proud and show off, it's easy to ship, it's something they look forward to, and it's not expensive. They have enough money to buy what they want and need so "stuff" doesn't make sense. I try to get the most excitement/happiness per dollar from gifts I give and if I can't give something meaningful I prefer not to give anything.
Dawn, you do a great job of boldly but graciously presenting a very practical (and much needed) point of view. The world does not need more stuff! But it does need more down time and togetherness. I love your videos!
Just so you know I actually love the way you speak (lisp and all) and find you very relaxing to listen to. It’s actually one of the main reasons I watch, second to the great minimalist content obviously!
Thank you! That really means allot!!
Oh Dawn, I agree totally with all that you are saying! I almost started crying when you talked about your Mom giving the gift of Groceries. We didn’t have a lot of money either but I seen my Mom go to the Neighbors across the street to give them Groceries also! What a touching story and great memory of how your Mom is!❤️
I’m so proud of myself! I said NO to the work sock exchange ! I mean how many socks does a person need? I’m in my 50s I need nothing.
I SO APPRECIATE Your tips and feel like I'm on the same page as you. One trick I've learned to keep gift-buying under control for our 6 neices/nephews is I have started a tradition of getting them a pair of pj's to open each Christmas. And that's it. They love it, its easier on me, and much more budget friendly vs buying a bunch of toys.
Thanks, once again, for another great video.
Great idea, Alicia!
Love idea of card making for older people. This is a loner time than normal for many people.
My sister loves all things Christmas, I never have!!! Thank-you! I am still looking for new ideas to get into the spirit. We adopted a family one year and secretly dropped at their front door....it felt awesome!
Hey, dentist here...I just want to say I love your videos! Also, the best tip I give my patients who need to retrain their tongue so they don't lisp is to practice counting from 60 to 70 out loud over and over again, so their tongue relearns where to touch the teeth so it sounds normal. Sixty, sixty-one, sixty-two, etc. has a ton of S's and T's which are the hardest. Hope that helps! You're awesome!!
Awesome video. I’m a great grandma and still enjoy watching your family. We have scaled back on gifts, being together is more important.
Your Mom's kind and generous gift to the neighbors is such a good example of giving and sharing. I also grew up on a farm (in NZ) and the people in the area really cared for one another. Liked your ideas for planning the Christmas season.
We decided to invest in a family season pass for the zoo instead of individual presents. With two teenagers and a baby, we want to be able to spend time with them building memories. But I wasn't sure how to break the news to them about only getting that and a few stocking stuffers. Thank you for this video because now I know what to say!
Your videos are so full of wonderful ideas, love and laughter. They brighten my days. I had to tell my in-laws no more stuff for our son. He's never cared about things and we just plain ran out of room. I've always liked the 4 gift idea: something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read.
As a teacher, I love getting handmade cards, pictures of the kids, and baked goods! Even a dollar store bag of candy & a note makes me feel so loved! Yes, I've received some amazing gifts, but just being remembered warms my heart!
Ya know you're loved when I like before I listen! Blessings dear soul!
Thank you for this video. You have great suggestions. As a teacher I just want you to know that I absolutely do not want my students to give me gifts, especially if it is something they cannot afford. You are absolutely right that teachers appreciate the kind notes. Even during these interesting times, I feel the kind note is even more needed. So I think it is ok to put the teachers at the bottom of the Christmas list of gifts and instead write a kind note to a teacher. Having recently found your videos I have started the journey to declutter my home. I am on a throwaway kick and it feels so good. Tossing the 2-foot tall stack of scrapbooking magazines alone made me feel better. Clearing off the clutter on my desk has made things even better. I am a beginner but feel this will be something I continue, as I see things that need to be tossed, I quickly toss them and do not look back. Especially the items I had forgotten, I know I will forget them again. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.
You are so adorable! You are worried people would reject the idea of replacing purchases with (to me) the true spirit of Christmas! Giving of yourself is a gift we give as well as receive. Our spirits are lifted, I don't care who you are, when you make someone feel special and they smile from their heart! Happy Holiday's to you and your families.
We downsized gifts a few years back and it is great. Now for my sons teacher I ask him what stationary she shares with the class that is running out. I then make up a small collection of things I know she needs to replace. It means she isn’t spending her cash on consumables for the class and still getting a gift from us. We included a nice note in a card too.
I loved your story of how your mother bought Christmas dinner for that family! It reminded me of something my mom did when I was young - probably 7 or 8. She heard of a family who had no money for Christmas. Like your mom, she purchased food for them, but there was no money for her to also buy toys for the children. She suggested to my sister and I that we go through our toys, and pick some of our nice toys that we rarely played with to give to those children. I had a doll that I absolutely loved, and I kept this doll very pristine because I loved it so much. It was the nicest toy I had, so I gave it to my mom. She actually had tears in her eyes because she knew what that doll meant to me. Sorry to be so long with this story...but the lesson I learned that Christmas is something I need to share. My mother's example taught me that we should always give our best, no matter what we are doing; we should always give with love in our hearts, no matter what it is that we are giving; and we should always help others, even if we do not have a lot for ourselves. I hope you and your family have a beautiful holiday season, filled with peace, laughter and the joy of giving from the heart.
THANK YOU DAWN!!! I have grown to hate Christmas because of the overwhelm, fakeness and waste. You inspire me to TAKE BACK CHRISTMAS and make it align with my values. Being clear about what is meaningful and being organized will allow that to happen.
I told my 9 year old that I wasn’t gonna gifts this year because it was Jesus’s birthday not ours and she said “ok!” I was shocked she didn’t even care! I am planning on giving everyone a sweatshirt and maybe a Hooverboard for all the kids to share (they have fun on it. We have 9 kids all together so it so easy to spend a ton of money and no one getting very much. I definitely like experiences and quality time over gifts. I have cut way back on decorating, only one tote for Christmas. We always get a tree from the mountains so just save ornaments and a nativity scene. Life is so much more simple now - we have 11 at home and my house stays way cleaner then 5 years ago when I had more stuff. So thanks to you and Darci for a peaceful home!
We love you Dawn! Thank you for putting this wonderful video out. I totally agree that a gift does not have to be super expensive to be thoughtful. If it comes from the heart.......that is what matters. "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Aesop
I'm doing the opposite this year - I had convinced my family to go to a name draw system - only had to purchase and only received one gift every year! It has worked great for the last few years! In the last 18 months, though, three of my grandparents have passed away and one uncle became estranged along with his part of the family. So this year I'm going back to getting a little something for everyone. The family has been cut in half and I'm missing everyone badly.
People who have gifts as their love language REALLY love it when you tell them that something reminded you of them. They love to be unique in your thoughts.
My friend recommended your channel and this video is the first one that I watched. I love it! We decided a few years ago to simplify Christmas and it's been so great. In the past we've only given our kids 1 gift plus the stocking stuffers and it has really helped us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. This year is going to look even different than before. We rented a house in the mountains about an hour from us and that is our only gift to everyone. No Santa gifts either. We're just going to make memories together for a few days and I'm so looking forward to it!
Pretty sure I speak for more than just myself when I say we love you just the way you are, s’s and all!!!
I have been a huge fan of consumable gifts. With all Bdays done this year at home with less fan-fair, we are all looking forward to an intimate holiday season. Each family member gets 4 gifts, one you need, one you want, one that is eatable, and of course one that relates to a hobby. (example- paints, crafts paper, video game, or a cooking gadget) keeping it simple and personal. And yes got some goodies for the teachers too (even with remote learning this year, they are a HUGE part of my children's development)
Some of us love to SHOW love through gifts and feel soooo happy giving them.
Gifts that combine the "thing" and the thought are my favorite to give. Examples - when my Dad, with his sweet tooth had to change his eating habits - I gave him a year of a homemade "approved" dessert once a month. I give my father in law different jars of my homemade jam and homemade biscotti. The other year my mother in law was admiring a quilt I was working on...so I made her the same pattern in fabric to match her décor - she cried. I gave my Mom a cord of firewood this year....she was SO HAPPY and thinks of me every fire she lights! :)
I have always tried to teach my kids that the best gift is the feelings that come with giving. We don’t have much but I know it’s still more than others may have.
A wonderful video Dawn. Thank you for your time and wise words. The greatest ‘gift’ is giving your time to loved ones, family, friends and people who simply need a little companionship.... The ‘love language’ to me is the generosity of kindness. And we ALL need some of that, at the moment.. Bless you and your beautiful family.
Oh Dawn.... I agree 100%!!! When my kids were growing up.... they loved their gifts... but it was the activities and time spent together, that they talked about the most afterwards!!!! I also think it is very important for our kids to see us doing things for other people.... we don't announce it to the public... but we also want to be that good example to our kids, teaching them to help others as well, so they can become giving adults one day!
Everything you say hits home. Never apologize for your beliefs. GREAT JOB
We have had a long tradition of spending so much time opening gifts we make cinnamon rolls for a quick breakfast. Today seeing the 3 gifts and a stocking stuffer I realized “oh my gosh. I think I’ll have time to cook breakfast this year!” I realized if I don’t Plan something everyone might just stare at each other wondering why we’re done so soon. Then I thought, how cool that I CAN plan something instead of being exhausted and spending the whole day building things until lunch.
Minimalism has made a huge change for me. I’m so grateful for your videos.
Love your videos! You are 100% right, we as humans have so much "stuff"! This year has been such a challenge in so many ways. Christmas will be different. I was just thinking about years ago when my daughter was about 16 she took a small shiny box, and small pieces of paper, on the pieces of paper she wrote different attributes about me, I still have that Gift! It isn't the price of the Gift, it is the thought that is put into it. I truly hope that we all have learned to cherish our Loved one and Friends.
I'm a teacher and I ALWAYS travel for the holidays. This year I FINALLY have my act together and have completed the routine car maintenance needed before a road trip such as oil change, tires rotated, battery checked, new wipers and my winter car gear checked and replaced if necessary (jumper cables, new windshield cleaning fluid etc.). Often December is just as busy for me as August or May and I feel a HUGE sense of relief by having my car ready to go as much as possible before the actual trip. Yes, life happens and sometimes last minute car repairs come up, but having as much of this done well in advance has made me feel so much better. In years past I procrastinated these task and compounded my holiday "to do list" and stress.
As a teacher my favourite gifts are a thank-you note/card from parents or a drawing from the students; it makes the year of hard work feel appreciated 😀
Thank you for your series of videos on simplifying Christmas. We've always given our 3 children way too many gifts. Inevitably someone would feel slighted among the excess and my husband would get so discouraged. This year, after pursuing a minimalist life for almost 2 years and with the pandemic, we decided to change it up. Our kids are 19-24 and have full or part time jobs. We are adding money to their IRA's and the projection is for it to grow by 15x by the time they retire. Then, each of us will buy each person a well thought out gift. Buy 4 gifts, receive 4 gifts. We talked to them about it and they are all really excited. We are planning to Zoom with our out of town family and play minute to win it games with each other. I've started a list of fun things to do together while they are home on break. I'm actually really excited for Christmas this year! Thanks for all the great advice!
I'm taking your words to heart. What is important to me and to my family? I need to "schedule" time together. I'm feeling a responsibility to not over-schedule our lives going here and there. Thanks for the reminders that people need a phone call or something in the mail or something thoughtful that may or may not include a gift.
The story of your mother delivering food to a neighbor was so heartwarming to me, it truly is those gifts for others in need that bring me the most joy. Thank you f I r sharing your heart. I think you are on to something great!
Dont apologize Dawn. Love your heart and where you are coming from on this. You remember your mothers actions, not a specific gift, as a childhood Christmas memory! Great perspective