At the beginning of this year we decided that we had enough stuff in our home. Don’t get me wrong, I would love a new couch and comforter and kitchen–HA! But we don’t need more toys, clothes (just wait a minute. One of them will sneeze and outgrow them!) and etc. We are incredibly blessed and wanted to help our kids to feel that more. So, we spoke with our kids and came to the agreement that we would do experiences this year, not stuff for birthdays!! Woohoo!!
It has been awesome! And tricky, and different than I thought it would be–in good ways. So, here are the things I’ve learned along the way!!
1. My kids have gotten more creative with gifts that they give to each other. Homemade cards, signs, and small trinkets that they’ve created for their siblings have brought new meaning to gifting over here. When my kids have received candy from school or a friend, they will then save it to share with their sibling on their birthday–this is one of my favorite, unexpected results from focusing on experiences. The desire to share something unique or gift something meaningful for a loved one isn’t new, but changing the parameters of gifting caused my kids to become more creative and thoughtful and it’s been so sweet to watch!
2. It has taught my kids how to plan and save for an event! We have had to plan which day will work best for our outing and have spoken about expenses as well. We have talked about foregoing certain treats in order to save for the fun we’d have for their birthday! We did not go to Italy for my birthday this year, although I would have loved that! Maybe next year! 🙂
3. Food became a bigger deal! Without receiving gifts on a birthday, we turned to food for some added excitement! We have always had fun food on birthdays, however, this year we just celebrated yummy food a little more! Because, well, ice cream!
4. The excitement factor while engaging in our experiences has been 10 fold what it has been for a gift. We have had our kids choose something completely new to them and as we’ve been present for these experiences we have connected and bonded more and reflected on those fun times frequently since!! Creating memories wins every time!
Here are a few things to consider:
1. If my birthday kid is in need of something like shoes, or clothes or whatever, we’ll still get that for them, so sometimes it still feels like a birthday present!!
2. It has been pricey!! Maybe because there are 8 people in our family, but going and doing things at fun places has been more expensive than giving gifts to my people. So, if you are considering going the route of experiences, save accordingly!!!
Overall, we have REALLY enjoyed doing experiences. My kids across the board have gotten excited just at the thought of being able to choose their new outing. We’ve made sure to write about it in our journals afterward to help solidify the memory in their minds and have enjoyed the closeness we feel from enjoying new experiences together! So, if you’re thinking about it, give it a try, you will have a year filled with fun things to look forward to and great stories to share!
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Kayleen
