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busymum 
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
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 Posted: 23 December 2008 at 8:17pm |
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We have been talking about the Christmas story and even reading it straight from our Bible (we also don't have a good nativity book, but it won't hurt them!). The older girls have been involved in a Christmas production with their Sunday School as well. We say it's Jesus' birthday and that we remind each other of Jesus being like a gift to us, by giving presents to other people. This year we also donated $50 of groceries to some friends on sickness benefit (cancer recovery) and talked with the girls about how some people don't have much money to buy food etc. That's about it for us.
We don't do the Santa thing at all, although one day I'll teach them the story of St Nicholas so they get the background to Santa. They know that Santa is a man dressed up and pretends to give presents to everyone, but in our house the presents come from mum and dad. The other thing we have done (for the first time) this year is let the older two girls go Christmas shopping for each of us. It teaches them something about money/spending (and we gave Hannah a little budget and she had to add up how much she was going to buy vs how much money she had) as well as being able to be part of the giving.
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susieq
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Howick/Auckland
Points: 3771
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Posted: 23 December 2008 at 9:44pm |
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Kelly. you will be able to do the midnight service again in a few years,
Liz I took Caitlyn to the Elim production this evening always a good one, you should bring Harry to the All Saints in Howick one now you are closer crib service 6pm tomorrow
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arohanui
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Joined: 16 January 2007
Location: Auckland
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Posted: 24 December 2008 at 12:01am |
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The Elim production sounds good Susie, did Caitlyn enjoy it? We're leaving Aucks tomorrow afternoon so won't be able to make it to a Christmas Eve service - kinda guttered too cos it was the first year my church is doing a family/kids one (previously we just had one at 11pm, now we have one at 6pm or something too). Ah well always next year!
Kate yeah as far as teaching bubbas Rowan's age I don't think it's so much "teaching" but more just part of life eh? Like we talk about Jesus and God in everyday conversation, pray before we eat, and pray with Harry before he goes to sleep at night. So more just learning through it being a part of everyday life.
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Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... 
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mum2emj
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: Nelson
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Posted: 24 December 2008 at 8:05am |
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i think it is such a shame that christmas seems to of become so commercalised (sp)
it does take the focus off the meaning of christmas a little .
it upsets me that there is pressure on families to spend when they cant, and i'm with everyone else on the santa issue... people ask what is santa going to bring you etc... and do make a big deal of santa. he's plastered everywhere.
my girls know that they are celebrating the birth of jesus and are getting excited to be having a birthday party for him lol. they will get a present from us and we each have brought one present for one family member so they can "give" something as well as recieve.
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11111
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Location: New Plymouth
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Posted: 24 December 2008 at 8:26am |
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Just want to add here my pastor said it like this at our mainly music and I loved it and i think it explain's thjing's simple.
Christtmas is Jesus birthday and because he loves us so much he want's us to have present's on his birthday. I have not gone out of my way to tell the boy's santa is not real we just don't talk about it at all. Cause I also don't want my kid's to be the ones that spoil it for other kids (like i did a few times).
Rach we have spent about $50 on each kid this year and got something little for the family from the kid's. we never go over board for christmas becasue it is not about us. We don't do stocking's etc.
I guess this will get harder as they get older.
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MrsMojo
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Joined: 18 March 2008
Location: Wellington
Points: 8202
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Posted: 24 December 2008 at 8:32am |
Last night I read Michaela the book my sister sent over "the true story of Santa Claus". It was fabulous and she loved it!
Written into a fictional childrens story it told of Nicholas who loved God and loved his fellow people and helped them, it told about how Nicholas became a Bishop and told about many of the good things he did during his life and then when he gets really old the child Jesus comes to him and thanks him for being such a faithful servant and tells him it's time to join him in his Fathers kingdom but Bishop Nicholas protests that he still has much work to do and who will help the children to which Jesus replies you will. It talks about how much Jesus loves us and then goes on to explain that Nicholas became Saint Nicholas but some people call him Santa Claus so the "twist" at the end is that Saint Nicholas the religious figure who loves God and Jesus is actually Santa Claus and the real reason that he comes at Christmas is to remind us to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
It's such a great story so if you ever come across it I definitely recommend buying it. I love the way that the author has taken back the religious holiday for it's true meaning IYKWIM. The book is definitely going to become a regular in our Christmas reading. I'll read it again to her tonight before she hangs up her stocking and then before bed I'll read her the nativity again.
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Paws
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Location: Auckland
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Posted: 24 December 2008 at 10:53am |
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I think I have to get hold of a copy of that book!
We're combating the Santa problem in our house at the moment so sounds like it might be a good one!!
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caitlynsmygirl
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Posted: 24 December 2008 at 11:21am |
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C believes in Santa and I have no problem with that, shes 6 and has a splendid imagination , when she is old enough to understand I will explain to her not just about the background of Saint Nicholas, but also the gist of it, that santa is the spirit of giving. ...and that she now belongs to a special group of people who know the truth and if she tells her siblings santa isn't real , then she wont be getting any presents, meh .
She will also happily inform anyone that asks that the reason we have christmas at all is because its the day Jesus was born , and we are celebrating his birthday .
I believed in Santa, but that didnt mean i had some sort of problem understanding the concept of Jesus's main role on christmas day .
But then im different I suppose to most, I believe in God, but I dont expect C to just because I do , I want her to chose the religion shes most comfortable with .
oh , and as for stockings, that was my favourite part, i still insisted on one last year, I love doing a stocking for C -and it gives me an extra 20 minutes sleepin on Christmas morning .
Edited by caitlynsmygirl
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Bobbie
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Posted: 24 December 2008 at 11:32am |
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ooh Jo that book sounds great - I'll keep a look out for it.
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MrsMojo
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Location: Wellington
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Posted: 24 December 2008 at 11:41am |
I agree Kelly. Each to their own but for us Santa will always have his place in Christmas but I want it to be the Christian Santa that teaches children about giving rather than the commercialised Santa that teaches children about getting. If that makes sense.
When we were old enough that none of us kids believed in Santa anymore we started doing Secret Santa every year up until we moved out of home and that was great fun, included mum and dad and really pushed the idea of Christmas being about giving. We also always bought gifts for our siblings - we were given a small budget and put a lot of thought into what our brothers and sisters would like and it was very exciting to see their reaction on Christmas day.
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Paws
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Location: Auckland
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Posted: 24 December 2008 at 11:56am |
Ohhhhh I found where we can buy The True Story of Santa Claus.....
Check it out. The True Story of Santa Claus
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MrsMojo
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Location: Wellington
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Posted: 24 December 2008 at 12:02pm |
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Good work Paws. That's the one. I might have to buy my own copy too rather than borrowing my sisters one.
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For the Christians here
