One of the hardest parts of parenting is imparting lessons to our children that we hope will stick and carry on through their lives. These are trying times, the height of the holiday season. Consumerism abounds as we substitute the cash register for the altar at which we pray.
Children are bombarded with myriad marketing messages every day. Tweens in particular are swept up in fitting in, affirming their own identity, and wanting all the things. Truth be told, we parents fall prey to this too. Well, at least I do. Sales! Deals! Steals! Conflicting messages make us feel unworthy while others tell us what we need to buy to feel worthy. The cycle is vicious. Yet we continue to parrot the spirit of the season, the value in giving versus getting, gratitude, and grace.
It’s tough to teach our kids that just because we have the means to buy all the things doesn’t mean we will. Those of us who don’t overindulge become the meanest parents in the world for not keeping up with the Joneses. The whining chorus of “But Johnny got…” and “I didn’t get…” blasts upon deaf ears, for we know we’ve planted the seeds for a life lesson. In the long term, we know we did the right thing to impart the real meaning of the season.