[stargazer]

erinjane~i would've been crying with that woman! it had to feel good. i like your hamper idea.

polly~that is sad. there are dollarstores all over the place. at least, you did something.

i really like knowing i am helping someone in need. makes me feel good and feel i am part of the true spirit of the holidays. not to sound like a total sap. i'm trying to do things throughout the year as a way to give back. one of my good friends belongs to a volunteer organization here where she helps out with the elderly and kids.

[pollystyrene]

So is that like a food drive, erinjane? Food and other necessities? I like doing those. A nearby mall has this big Christmas tree with "ornaments" that are really slips of paper, anonymously listing toys, clothes, etc. that a needy kid is asking for. You just go grab an ornament, buy the stuff and bring it back with the tag. I did that for a few years. One year, when I was in college, my dorm floor did a food drive for a needy family and I was the only one, except my RA, who bought anything. I just got a big box of Bisquick, but c'mon, even poor college students can afford a 59 cent can of corn or whatever else was on their list. Sad.

[erinjane]

At work we had a poll as to what do to in terms of gift giving. Rather than a gift exchange we went for a christmas hamper (which was my vote). I always feel so good when I do them. We got a family with a mom, a six year old, and a 2 month old. I always sign up to give way too much stuff. Twice I've delivered the hampers and that last time the woman burst into tears at all the stuff we'd given and I was really happy that someone grateful could get what they needed.

I think next year I'm going to start donating to charities for gifts.

[stargazer]

has anyone done any gift-giving towards charity this year?

i participate in a letters to santa program through our local newspaper. but, i felt bad for my kid. first time in several years where i had a letter from a kid i couldn't read. usually the teacher will write after what the kid wrote to make the letter clear for the reader. i hope the kid likes what i got her.

i just thought it would be interesting during this time of year to read what everyone else has done.

[pollystyrene]

They're not super religious (good, because I'm not religious at all- I see this just as a general moral role). I guess I could go the clothes route- I feel stupid putting too much thought into gifts for a one year old- not like they know the difference anyway.

Yeah, I think days out are going to have to be done on their half-birthday because I don't want to haul myself around the big attractions downtown in December, let alone a little kid.

[stargazer]

what kinds of things do their parents do with them? or are trying to teach them? i really like getting fun learning toys for kids. then again, i'm a nerd. there is alot out there through the leap frog series. lots of children's books. clothes do help parents. especially at the young ages when kids are growing out of clothes very quickly.

things to do when they get older...well, 'cause i know we live in the same 'hood. the windy city has many "free" days at the museums in the city. one of my favorite memories as a kid was going to the shedd aquarium and history museum. this way, you have money to eat or buy something for the kid. we had to save money when i was younger...so my family really looked forward to those free days.

hope this helps!

[pollystyrene]

The major gift-giving season is upon us, and occasionally we all need advice and inspiration when it comes to giving advice to family, friends and acquaintances.

So here's my issue: One of my BGP's has twin daughters who are turning one year old in a couple of weeks. My boyfriend and I are godparents to one of them. It won't make much difference this year, but in the future, we'd like to do a little something extra for our goddaughter on her birthday, something more interesting than a savings bond or something. But, because she's a twin, we have to be a little more careful, so as not to make her sister feel left out. The godparents of her sister are her uncle and his wife, who we're also friends with, so I guess we could talk to them and see if they were going to do special for their g.d., to make sure they're doing something, so as not to create sibling rivalry. What kind of special stuff could we do? Maybe when she's older, take day trips to the zoo or something like that?

Does anyone have any suggestions for what to get each of them for a birthday present besides this extra thing? I want to spend between $20-$30 on each kid, either 2 small gifts or one big gift for $40-$60 (or is that a bad idea?)