What is the true meaning of this time of year for your family?

My 2-year-old daughter loves to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" no matter the time of year. She doesn't understand the whole story of how Charlie Brown struggles to make sense of the chaos and commercialism that has become the Christmas season. She just loves to watch Snoopy being silly. Christmas time is a fun time (for sure), however, it is quite easy to get caught up in the decorating, the eating, the overspending and, let's face it, the selfishness.

I sometimes feel like Charlie Brown standing on the stage yelling in frustration, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" But, here's the thing: I do know what it is all about but sometimes I just get too caught up in the noisy chaos of the season.

My hope is that one day my daughter will know what Christmas is all about. I hope that she will be willing to stand up for the true meaning of Christmas like Linus does when he answers Charlie Brown's question. When he stands on the stage and says, "Lights, please" it illustrates to me that only when I am willing to be quiet and shut out all other distractions can I focus on the truth of Christmas.

Christmas is not about getting things (think Lucy wanting real estate, Sally wanting "her fair share"). Christmas is about giving. It is about the ultimate gift of love given to every one of us. I want my daughter to know what it means to give and what a blessing it is not only to the receiver, but the giver as well.

How do I start teaching my 2-year-old how to give when she has a hard time even sharing with her friends?

I can start by being an example. For instance, every Christmas growing up my family had a tradition. After reading the Christmas story and seeing what Santa brought, we'd all pile in the car and make our way to the local fire station. We would deliver homemade cookies and treats to the firefighters who had to work on Christmas day. I cannot express their gratitude for such a simple gesture. They were so grateful to be remembered on Christmas day. It was our simple way of saying thank you for all they did for our community. I experienced such joy with that simple act of giving.

I've grown up and moved away, and I find that I miss that annual Christmas delivery. My parents still get up and go to their local fire station. The firefighters have come to anticipate my parents' visit. In today's world, the firefighters can no longer accept homemade goodies, but my mom still buys lots of treats for them. I asked my mom if she'd help me pass this tradition on to my daughter.

So, this Christmas morning will find my parents, my husband, my daughter and I making a trip to the local fire station with a basket of goodies. My hope is that my little girl will begin to experience what a gift it is to give.

Here are some other ideas for teaching kids about giving:

1. Charitable Giving
   Using these gift cards, kids can shop at the Markmakers store for goods & services in need around the world.
   

2. Bake cookies or pumpkin bread and hand-deliver them to your neighbors.
   Michelle writes, "I use this recipe and made a few substitutions for allergy reasons. I use organic pumpkin pie mix (because it has extra spice), Ener-G's Egg Replacer (I used the equivalent of 6 eggs according to their recommendations on the box), and Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose flour. I baked it for an additional 10 minutes."
   

3. Send a card to a soldier serving overseas.
   Maybe it is an actual card through the Red Cross or an eCard through Xerox, let them know how to appreciate them.
   

4. Send a card to a child with a terminal illness.
   

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