Gifts of love: Creating memories and teaching values
Dear Readers: Many of you wrote in with tips on encouraging children to focus less on material
Tuesday, April 23 CHAMBER AFTER HOURS MIXER
The Bishop Chamber of Commerce 5 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 24 SOUTHERN INYO AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Committee meeting at will conduct its quaterly 7 a.m. at the Lone Pine
(760) 878-0200.
NIH AUXILIARY
(enter at the Grandview Street Entrance) at 10 a.m. The second Wednesday of the month is a General Meeting. Other Wednesdays are devotitems. Thank you for sharing these terrific suggestions. Here are some of my favorite letters: will be from 8 a.m. - noon equipment is provided cityofbishop.com.
LONE PINE TRIBAL CELEBRATION
as both well as
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Lone Pine Paiute Shoshone Reservation Tribal
include a reservation roads cleanup, community outreach fair and participation luncheon.
WORM WORKSHOP
will be from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Bishop
Historic Site located between Independence and Lone Pine will begin with cultural performances at 11:30 a.m. with the main portion of
Dear Annie: I just read your letter from “Caught in the Middle,” the parent whose daughter is being who will be showcasing Living’
- 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 28 YOUTH FLY FISHING CAMP SUMMER CONCERT SERIES – ELLE KING
The
Elle King. Gates open at 2 p.m. and music begins at 3 p.m. Bring a
go to tricountyfair.com.
Tuesday, April 30
The ‘Ghost Town 6 p.m.
Tri-County meeting
The group is in the midst of planning its second quilt show at Laws Railroad
Wednesday, May 1
of (enter at the Grandview Street Entrance) at 10 a.m. The second Wednesday of the month is a General Meeting. Other Wednesdays are devotorganization who’s funds purchase life more
Eastern regular monthly information,
Sierra contact
President spoiled by her grandpar- ents and is looking for a polite way to call off the gifts. The letter writer should follow your advice and encourage her mother to start giving memories instead of presents. She should get on the floor with her granddaughter and play with her. Whether it’s having a tea party or building a fort or going to the zoo, those are the things her granddaughter will remember. She won’t remember the gifts after a week or two, but memories of play dates and special times with her grandma? She’ll remember those always.
My grandson has a family member who always gives gifts, and sometimes it’s hard when I don’t do that. But I’m determined to give him memories that will last. When he remembers how he pet the baby deer at the deer farm, he’ll remember that we took him there. Or how we were at every sporting event that he’s played in, being his loudest supporters. He often brings up some of the things we’ve done. That’s when I know we’ve done the right thing.
Grammy life is the best life.
– Memories Forever
Dear Annie: Many years ago, my grandfather insisted on gifting us something on every visit. This was in addition to taking us for treats and to the park to play. He also kept a change jar, and while we would hold our hands over a bag, he’d pour change until it overflowed in our hands.
My mom tempered the generosity by letting us keep an age-appropriate amount to spend and taking us to the bank to deposit the rest in our savings accounts.
I’ll always remember my grandfather’s generosity, but I also remember my mom teaching us to save. Maybe this would help this family, too.
When we got overloaded with toys at Christmas, we chose several to keep and donated the rest to kids less fortunate or the local Y.
I am 66 years old and very grateful for these early experiences. They taught me thrift, empathy and compassion and have kept me well-grounded through the years!
– Feeling Compassion
Dear Annie: I must preface my comment with the fact that I am a 64-year-old woman who has been reading advice columns in newspapers since I was a teenager. I continue to learn while reading these columns, but every once in a while, I see a very black-andwhite answer to what seems a complicated situation.
If “Caught in the Middle” cannot get her mother-in-law to stop giving gifts, then she should accept them graciously.
My niece has dealt with this by talking to her now 5- and 8-year-old daughters and telling them they can only have as many toys or “stuffies” as can fit in the huge toy box in their room. As the toy box begins to overflow, they make decisions on what toys they are willing to give to other children. Plenty of charities are looking for “newer” toys.
There are variations on how this can be done, but it teaches children that when they are blessed with an abundance of things, it can feel good to give to children who don’t have as much as they do. This will keep the grandmother happy, as the daughter-in-law will stop nagging her, and peace will prevail.
Thanks for your column.
– A Lesson for Kids
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