Just One More Gift...

I finished Christmas shopping for the kids over a month ago.  I've been really proud of myself because for the first time ever I didn't go overboard AND when I said I was done, I meant it.  (I'm the queen of impulse shopping and always tend to end up buying 'just one more gift'.)

Shortly after I had  finished my shopping, Kyle went to a birthday party.  It was there that he was introduced to a few new " fad" collection-type toys.  Had he not gone to this party he never would have even known what this stuff was, since he's not in school and doesn't watch t.v. - (he never even knew who Pokémon was until his Uncle Frank gave him some old cards... and he's still never watched any of the shows.). Anyways, the birthday boy got bombarded with these toys and all of the kids played with them during the party.  When Kyle got home from the party he excitedly told me & Jim all about the toys.  I had to go online to see what they were, lol

Since then it's ALL Kyle talks about.

I rarely 'spoil' my children with materialistic things.  I never just buy them toys for the hell of it... even though, like most parents, I sometimes want to! And when Christmas time rolls around they never get 'everything' on their little list to Santa.  It's not because I'm being mean or cheap.  It's because my children are blessed to have lots of friends and family who love to shower them with gifts, especially at Christmas.  And it's also because I want to teach them young that they can't always get everything they want.

With the exception of when its time to make a Christmas list, Kyle never asks for toys.  Both him and Bella are the type of kids who go to stores on a regular basis and never expect or ask for anything.  They can browse through the toy section without having a tantrum.  They can stand next to the candy in the check out and not touch it.  They may say they would like something, but rarely do they ask for anything.

I admit that I've been tempted to buy Kyle one of these collection toys that he's been talking about... but up until just last night I had stuck to my original thought process: I'm done shopping...

Then...

Last night...

Kyle was wrapping the gift he had bought for Savannah.  He used some of his allowance money to buy her a little doll.  While he was wrapping it he said " Do you think she's going to like this doll?  It's not much.  It's pretty small.  Maybe I should get her something else too?  Afterall, she IS my sister and she's always nice to me.  She deserves more than just a little doll. Maybe I'll leave a note for Santa tonight and ask him if he can bring her an extra gift...".

It wasn't so much WHAT he said as much as it was HOW he said it.  He was being so honest and sincere.

He's such a good boy.  He may drive me crazy from time to time, with his multiple quirks and silly behavior, but he's still a great child.  He always does what he's told.  He does an exceptional job with his school work.  His manners are better than most adults.  But more than all of that, he's always thinking of others before himself.  He genuinely likes to make people happy.

So today, I'm going to get him 'just one more' gift for Christmas.  I'm going to spoil him just a little more on Christmas morning.  I'm going to get him one of these collection toys he's been talking about.  Growing up with a house full of girls isn't always easy.  He deserves a little extra something :-)