greedy

While photographing this cute boy, I asked, “So what do you want for Christmas?”

“Hmm, not really anything,” he replied, “I already have a lot.”

Eleven-year-old Isaac isn’t a kid with a cell phone, an iPad or a TV in his room, but he is well-clothed, well-fed and adored by his parents. His dad always makes time to shoot hoops in the driveway or drill math facts; his mother celebrates daily life in a thousand little ways.

Much is said this time of year about selfish kids penning mile long Christmas lists and demanding the latest toys and electronics. I’ll make the assertion that kids do feel greedy at Christmas– they want more of our time.

Xander recently created a Christmas wish list filled with items like:

make homemade peppermint oreos (check!)
read a Christmas story every night
go to mountains to cut Christmas tree (check!)
make gingerbread houses
cut paper snowflakes
go to the festival of trees (check!)
see the lights downtown
set up train under the Christmas tree (check!)
act out the Nativity
light the candle chimes (check!)

it goes on….

You may recall Xander asserting he’d like my attention 25 hours a day. I honestly don’t think he’s that unusual. Children love the magic and pageantry of the Christmas season; gifts are just a small part of the celebrations.

Now don’t get me wrong; I love presents. I delight in creating or finding just the right surprise and I am often so excited that I can scarcely keep a secret. More than once I’ve insisted that someone open a gift a week early because I can’t wait another moment.

I’m certainly not suggesting any child with a Christmas list is selfish. Dreaming of a gift outside of usual purchases is part of the magic of childhood. When else can a child ask for a doll or a new Lego set?

I still remember Ben and Stefan’s excitement over this train Christmas 1996; if only all our gifts lasted this long.

“Entitlement” is another negative word oft applied to today’s children. It seems unfair to label an entire generation as selfish and lazy. I’ll suggest our children are entitled– to our time. The Proclamation to the Family reads, “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.

Isaac’s baby sister Grace

I suppose I’m a defender of kids as much as I’m a defender of teenagers. Kids are good, good, good– it’s only we adults who mess us they world; who turn Christmas into a commercial circus.

My apologies if my words are preachy, I write this as a reminder to myself this season– if I’m too busy for my children, I’m simply too busy.

Now off to mix up three batches of gingerbread…we’ve got a list to tackle.