Practical Matters

I think it is important to share how Advent Conspiracy works practically in our home. We DO exchange gifts on Christmas. Each year we look at our budget and decide how much we want to give away. The amount leftover is what we can spend on gifts. In order to use those funds most effectively we have been known to buy used gifts for our boys. (!) They seriously don't care. To them something new to them is new. And I'll tell you right now that the absence of toy packaging is brilliant! Another completely hilarious thing we've done is give them toys that have been removed in the past. Often when the boys fail to clean up the playroom, mom or dad cleans up with a big box that we store in the garage. Perhaps a toy they lost six months ago reappears from the box in the garage. We did this last year and it was a huge success! I know. What kind of mother am I? Only time will tell if I have permanently scarred my children by reducing the hype that surrounds the birth of Christ. Each boy does receive three gifts from us on Christmas morning, corresponding with heart (a toy), soul (something for spiritual growth), and mind (an educational gift). Actually this year, I found these AMAZINGLY cool shields for $5 each, but I already had their toys. So...I fudged a little. We homeschool these guys and we have been studying medieval times with knights and such. That makes the shields their educational gift this year, right? :-)

Regardless, the goal is that on Christmas morning the boys will experience the joy and wonder of gift giving and receiving without having it be blown out of proportion. I'll let you know how it goes!