Take the 5 Christmas Gift Challenge [LIST]

I was a single mom for fourteen years and when you're a single mom and the holidays come around, you feel like Christmas is the perfect time to make up for all the other times you couldn't afford elaborate birthday gifts or trips to the zoo and other fun and exciting activities.  I would do whatever I could to get my son as many gifts as possible; I thought that if there wasn't a bare spot under the tree than he would see that I really loved him and I was a good mom because I got him all these things....things that he lost or didn't even remember that I bought him.

Now that we're both older, all those things become less important for those exact reasons. Buying your kids a ton a gifts is great but what happens to all of it? What sort of meaning does it have? Besides, they're already getting a ton of gifts from other family members so don't worry about them not getting enough.

That's why I've decided to take the Money Saving Sisters Christmas gift challenge. They suggest limiting the gifts to four things: something they want, something they need, something they can wear and something to read. I wanted to take it a step further and add one more: something they can do. Experiences with the ones we love is the best gift you can give. I think I read somewhere that the best things in life aren't things. It's so true.

The experience doesn't have to be a fancy trip somewhere or anything expensive, it just has to involve spending quality time with one another. If you're having a hard time coming up with something, I'd like to suggest Night at the North Pole.  Join us for a night of fun in your PJs; playing games, sipping on hot cocoa and hanging with Santa.  It's coming up on December 5th at the Hilton Garden Inn. It'll be a night the kids will never forget. Reserve your room now by clicking the link below.