Creative gifting
Dear Annie: Here is a creative solution we use to both keep a festive spirit and give to charities at Christmas. This is a great alternative to buying for adults who honestly don’t need one more thing! In my family, we each draw a name for the holidays and select a toy or special gift and an outfit the person would have loved as a child (or teenager).
We are careful to wrap the gifts in bags or loose wrappings, so as not to damage the original packaging, leaving them presentable to donate. After everyone opens their presents, we collect everything and donate to organizations that distribute toys and clothing to families in need.
It is such fun to select items that represent an interest, hobby or personality trait of that person. We open gifts, laugh and celebrate one another. We have been doing this for several years now, and everyone looks forward to picking out gifts and also knowing that someone in need will enjoy them at Christmas. — Jane, in Alabama
Dear Jane: I love this — not just for the charitable aspect but because it encourages everyone to tap into their inner child, which is a beautiful way to celebrate Christmas.
Dear Annie: Every year around Christmas, I think of telling you what I do to solve a Christmas problem that so many of your readers seem to have. I have been blessed with 13 grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren. Sending each of them only a $10 gift — which would be lost, broken or forgotten in just a few months — seems futile, and, frankly, very expensive for me (a limitedincome senior).
About 10 years ago, I started having the children look at catalogs of organizations that send money to get animals, medicines, clean water, school supplies and so much more to some very poor countries. At first, sponsoring the farm animals appealed most to them. And as time went by, they’ve picked other things, such as supplying a clinic or a school. I always leave it up to different children to choose. Then all that’s left is for me to decide how much I can afford, pick up the phone and charge it to my credit card.
The kids seem to like this and look forward to it every year. Plus: No shopping, no wrapping, no mailing, and I never have to leave the house! — Happy Grandma in Indiana
Dear Annie: Your response to “Feeling Stupid” about how to get over her sisterinlaw’s bizarre and cruel remark hit the mark. I was in a very similar situation with my motherinlaw. I was dumbfounded and hurt as well, but years later I realized that her remark was a result of the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. — Been There
Dear Been There: Thank you for lending some more insight into how outoftheblue, outofcharacter behavior can signal serious underlying medical problems.