| Your daughter: "Mommy, mommy, I want Santa | | | | clothes in your closet, or that quirky lamp your |
| to bring me a (insert the name of this year's | | | | sister gave you as a joke last year, could make |
| most popular toy) for Christmas!" | | | | someone's Christmas morning a lot brighter. |
| You: "But you got a (insert the name of last | | | | Those barely-touched toys and dolls in your |
| year's very similar most popular toy) last | | | | daughter's room could reaffirm another child's |
| Christmas." | | | | belief in the goodness of Santa Claus. She may be |
| Your daughter: "It's old now! I hate it!" | | | | too young to understand the concept of charity, |
| You take a look around your daughter's room and | | | | but chances are, you child loves the thought of |
| you sigh. It's crammed full of "old" toys and dolls, | | | | making others happy. One thing she almost |
| last year's most-desired Christmas must-haves. | | | | certainly understands is the the need to convince |
| And you realize that the cycle has begun, again, | | | | Santa that she belongs on his "nice" list. Explain to |
| and that you're going to pay premium holiday | | | | her that Santa might see all the toys she has and |
| prices to clutter her room even more, until | | | | wonder why she needs new ones? After all, he |
| someday, you won't even be able to find the bed, | | | | wants to deliver toys to every good child, but he |
| the floor, or your daughter, for all the hated, | | | | only has one sleigh to carry everything. |
| obsolete toys crammed in. | | | | Ask her if she'd be willing to help Santa. Since she |
| And you think, what a waste, until you look at | | | | has all of these things which are practically new, |
| your own room or closet, and you realize that it's | | | | and there are other children who would love to |
| full of old, obsolete stuff, clothes that you'll never | | | | have some of them, why not trade some of last |
| wear again, or gifts that you'll never utilize but | | | | year's things for new ones? You can help her |
| just can't bear to part with ("Aunt Carol gave me | | | | gather the least used items in her room, and take |
| that!"). You're a classic pack-rat, and your | | | | them to a place where Santa can pick them up |
| daughter is following your example. | | | | on Christmas Eve-Goodwill, The Salvation Army, |
| Christmas is the perfect time of the year to | | | | your church, or a local charity drop-off site. Then, |
| change the pattern you've set for yourself and | | | | Santa can leave his shop at the North Pole with a |
| your family. So many families aren't fortunate | | | | lighter load, and after he drops off new toys at |
| enough to enjoy the wonderful Christmases we all | | | | your house, he can pick up the toys you've |
| anticipate each year. Why not use this season to | | | | donated, and deliver them to the children who |
| clean out your own clutter, help others who need | | | | want them. |
| it, and teach your daughter a valuable lesson in | | | | If you set the example by ridding your own |
| compassion, at the same time? | | | | surroundings of the useless and the unused, your |
| Besides major retailers, charities also rely on this | | | | daughter just might develop a lifelong habit of |
| time of year for the bulk of their business, and | | | | holiday giving, and helping others who may not be |
| believe it or not, those rarely- or never-worn | | | | as fortunate. |