We are rushed into the Christmas holidays earlier and earlier every year. People become more and more frantic about obtaining the overpriced, under-stocked "popular" toy of the year, even getting to the point of physically attacking other parents competing to get the same product. All of this to get something that, after the initial excitement of receiving it wears off, their children will be bored with before the next month runs out.

I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with giving kids gifts to make them happy, but I have seen so many instances where parents bestow thousands of dollars worth of "stuff" on their kids, but fail to give them what they probably need most...time.

I taught for a number of years and recall many situations where parents neglected to show up to see their son or daughter in a school play. A particular memory I have is of one little girl, looking up at me with large, sad blue eyes, as she informed me that her mom couldn't be there to see her in the holiday musical, because "Tuesday is her bowling night". Apparently, getting a perfect bowling score was more important to this woman than imparting personal support to her child.

That was a long time ago, but I still grieve that this mother, who perceived sitting through an hour of corny songs and flubbed dialogue as insignificant, missed the boat. She probably wonders why her now adult daughter is so remote and emotionally distant. That parent, like so many others, helped to dismantle that bridge of communication little-by-little and now there is nothing left.

Life, as a whole, is short and unpredictable. In the long run, it's not going to be the "hot" toys we give to our children that endures in their memories, but the bit of ourselves we pour into their lives.

The best gift we can give to our kid is our time. That's what they'll remember.

Learn more about this author, Angela Coleman.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Parenting: The greatest gift you can give your child is ... yourself?
We want to hear your view. Write now!