| More than the gift, it is the presence that counts. | | | | Oftentimes, we learn our life's lessons from home. |
| But alas! More and more parents are falling into | | | | Here then are few birthday gifts suggestions that |
| the trap of materialism, seemingly believing that | | | | speak less of price but bring back the magic of |
| every child's wish has a price. Birthday gifts begin | | | | giving gifts to a child: |
| to deviate from the real essence for which they | | | | A HUG AND A PAPER BAG. Cookies, candies, a |
| were first thought of. As more and more parents | | | | small toy car, a miniature doll, perfumed pens, |
| become unavailable to their children due to | | | | bottles of cologne, all the trinkets you can grab. |
| pressures at work and values that have | | | | And your big bear hug. |
| surrendered to the passing of time, birthday gifts | | | | A HOME-COOKED MEAL. To every child's eyes, |
| become expensive, as if their price can fill-in the | | | | Mom is the best cook, though the weighing scale |
| void the parents have inflicted on the child. | | | | has tipped off lately in favor of most Dads. No |
| Sadly, as children grow up, they get accustomed | | | | wonder this shared kitchen experience can whip |
| to the loneliness and begin to accept it as part of | | | | up a good birthday meal - no matter who does |
| life. They later learn to equate love with price, and | | | | the cooking, a home-cooked Italian spaghetti can |
| so when they have children of their own, the | | | | be an exciting birthday favorite, at all times. |
| cycle of neglect often comes in a box wrapped | | | | A movie ticket. A visit to the zoo. A Miami Heat |
| nicely in lace. | | | | basketball cap. A day in the park. A night-swim. |
| But do gifts really have to be expensive to | | | | Possibilities are endless for gifts that don't cost |
| effectively convey a message? How do you | | | | much, but would require one major ingredient |
| recapture the true essence of birthday gifts for a | | | | before any of them can become the world's best |
| child? | | | | birthday gift to your child. |
| Actually, it won't cost much time, effort and | | | | Your presence. |
| money. Perhaps all it takes is just one swift | | | | Nothing can measure up to a child's need to |
| introspection of how scarred you were, too when | | | | belong. Only the immediate reassurance from his |
| your parents started having meetings or out of | | | | parents, as manifested in occasions significant to |
| town appointments on your birthday. Healing can | | | | the child re -imposes his belief system, that no |
| spring naturally from acceptance and forgiveness | | | | matter what he finds the world as he grows up, |
| - only then you can move on, and fix your own | | | | it is still a place he calls "home". |
| relations with your child. | | | | Christiene S. C. |