Christmas treasures
Being a mom and also having the privilege of sitting in on the Waldorf preschool classes, i am often reminded how it is the small and natural treasures which bring the greatest delight, wonder and creativity to a small child. They appreciate the simple when the simple is offered with care and intention. More is not better. This is clear to me and especially so during these times of gift giving where there is a tendency to overdo it. The little ones can be overstimulated by the abundance and then left with feelings of irritability and disappointment rather than of magic, warmth, celebration… Little A has so much. i think too much at times. These past weeks, family and friends have been asking me what they can get for him and i really truly mean it when i say nothing or just a small token. He is not expecting a mass of gifts under the tree so as tempted as we feel to delight him and sugar him up, let’s not. instead let’s keep it focused on the gathering and the meal shared. i’m not saying that i want to deprive my son of the good feelings that come with giving and receiving (and he’s certainly had his share of receiving from the elves all month). i absolutely love to gather and make special packages for people and little A sees this and wants to make things for people too. He’s been busy and content with all sorts of projects this month and these past few days we’ve been gathering things together, thinking of our family and friends and writing little notes. it’s been so much fun. We enjoyed a wee celebration at the preschool this past week with all the children and their parents, special snacks and circle time. Little A & i wanted to gift some small treasures to his classmates. Thank you Emma for this sweet idea and thank you grandma P for so carefully cracking the walnuts from your nut tree so that we could make plenty of these little lights.
Little A chose a special color felted acorn for each of his mates;
i just can’t stop wrapping and rolling and photographing these sweet things so it’s no secret what our token gifts will be for everyone;
Some of these little friends have also been delivered around the hood;
a lesson for me too - as Muma who wants to spoil. I’m enjoying the process of creating and buying - a few very special things that will be loved and adored for years to come. Your little walnut candles are so sweet - they remind me of a little present my Nana gave me when I was young - the tiniest little doll lying in a bed … her bed was a walnut shell. I must find it!
Comment by Jodi — December 20, 2008 @ 6:02 pm
it is so easy to spoil them. we have a lot of extended family in town and they have a hard time understanding that we really want to keep things simple. (plus some are into the noisy toys - not my thing). and now that the day is drawing near i am already feeliing like we may have overdone it, and really we won’t have a lot under the tree.
we are planning on doing the walnut tealights as well (they have a how-to in the most recent living crafts magazine too), though when we will get the time i am not sure…
Comment by martha — December 20, 2008 @ 7:11 pm
Oh, so true! Less really is more. I find the girls are happier the more things I put away! It’s hard for me to resist all the wee treasures, but they don’t add joy to my children’s lives. Our hardest thing is getting others to see the delight they have in the little things.
Thank you for your wisdom
xox, K
Comment by Kyrie — December 20, 2008 @ 7:13 pm
so true. well said, as always. those treasures are so thoughtful and heartfelt. thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Comment by kate — December 20, 2008 @ 7:23 pm
yes! everything you say is so right on. i am feeling it more and more as i age and realize how just being able to spend this time with family and friends is what really warms our hearts. the walnut candles look so great! and i must confess that i ended up eating the gingerbread man that you brought over and it was yummy!
Comment by anna — December 20, 2008 @ 9:44 pm
Hi ella. Thank you so much on yesteraday.
We surprised your gifts!
My son put in yours gifts in histreasure box
( ofcourse,he already eat cookie )
He is happy and me too.
My older son , he wants to make it!
I dont know how can isay ,(english so difficult)
but I respect you
I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
Comment by maki(louis mom) — December 20, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
Thank you for the beautiful reminder. I had forgotten and feel so much better now.
Comment by Shannah — December 21, 2008 @ 9:44 am
What lucky friends and neighbors! The cookies look delicious! Which recipe did you use? I love the crackling….
Comment by Karen — December 21, 2008 @ 11:02 am
Whenever I read posts such as this of yours Ella, I wish I’d put as much thought into my parenting as you obviously do. I guess I’ve never thought that much about externals as you do and I wish I had. It’s harder to change lifestyle than to live it from the beginning. My girls both love the simplicity as you’ve said, but it does, at times, demand more thought and attention than I can muster. We craft an awful lot and cook, but I do forget to find time to just be.
I completely overdo it at Christmas, I acknoweldge that and you’re right - I do it for me for them, rather than just for them, if you get what I mean. I have made a lot this year and bought handmade (although not exclusively) but everything else has a use - things we can do, play or make, not just stuff.
Maybe I should add being more simple to life’s list of to-do’s for next year.
If I don’t get the chance to drop in again before Christmas - Merry Christmas to you, A & A. Thank you for sharing your lives with us across the miles - you inspire and delight us.
V
Comment by victoria — December 21, 2008 @ 2:11 pm
You put all the right words together. Things I’ve want to say out loud and talk about, but in a way I’ve felt embarrassed that I am going to come out too righteous or pretentious. But is funny to know this in your heart…to really know that kids don’t need all this stuff…they need the contact, the gathering, the tradition and meaningful small and simple gifts. I might link to your post since I dont think I can put it better than you.
Thanks for sharing some wisdom.
Comment by Fabs — December 21, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
cheers and here here! we do one gift rule in this house and it is so so hard to stick to it - I tend to overcompensate somewhere - like stocking. etc. (well, ok - santa brings a gift and we give a gift) but then by the time you add in the few family & friends, well - it’s already too much. I adore those little handmades - wanted to do walnut candles this year - been saving up leftover beeswax from candles to re-mold into new…but hey, one of the stocking stuffers this year is a nutcracker - so maybe it will be a post holiday craft!
Comment by kate — December 21, 2008 @ 8:08 pm
Thank you for your beautiful reminders this past week—the joy of snow, of small handmade gifts, of simply being with our children, family and other loved ones. It feeds my soul to read your words. So often it feels that the winter season speeds up to a quick pace that quietly can steal the joy and feeling I hope my family will experience–knowing others like yourself continue to nurture the calm joy that simple and handmade can bring is affirming. Thank you for your lovely photos and words. Now…I must stare at the Seattle snow.
Comment by Eva — December 21, 2008 @ 8:43 pm
The gingerbread men are priceless! I wish we had snow on the ground here…just bitter cold now!
Comment by Jen — December 22, 2008 @ 9:19 am
hey ella, i’ve been trying to email you but it won’t go through? mystery. wanted to email you the cookie recipe. have a wonderful christmas-
xo, K
Comment by kyrie — December 22, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
I keep coming back to read this post again and again because you seem to articulate so well my feelings on Christmas. It’s hard not to be sucked up the frenzy at this time of year, but whenever I reread this post it reminds me on how I’d like Christmas in our family . Beautiful pictures and beautiful words. xx
Comment by Michelle — December 22, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
[…] these thoughts […]
Pingback by Here are a few of my Favorite Things « are so happy — December 23, 2008 @ 9:59 am
Oh my, what a wonderful idea… i too get tetchy at all the gifts my children receive, and we try to make our gifts as much as we can…
those walnut candles are to die for xx
Comment by thevintagemagpie — January 13, 2010 @ 2:39 am