It's begining to look like a handmade Christmas!

I walk the store isles and I find myself feeling like a child - smelling the scented dolls, watching the whirling lights and listening to the baby dolls cry. I'm tempted, in an impulsive haze, to buy so many of these bright and beautiful toys but reality sits in and I step back. I realize that a month after Christmas, these bright and beautiful toys will lose their luster and brilliance. They will succumb to the dreaded fate that so many toys before them have met. They will be neglected and some even dismantled by chubby little fingers.

So, that leads to my questions. Why do it? Why spend so much on these toys of plastic, rubber and wire when they hold so little value to my children? How do we get the kids to be more respectful and to value their belongings?

In attempt to get the answer, we go back. Rocky and I reminisce back on the days of "when I was a kid". We talk about how we use to beg to play outside- unlike our kids who beg to stay indoors so they may play their video games. We recall how toys were in our childhood and how they use to spark our imagination. We loved those toys! We remember those toys and despite being adults, we wish we had them still. But its different for our children. The toys today do the imagining for you. Its quite amazing, really. They talk, walk, cry and even think. But, after all that, whats left for the kids?

For example: time after time, Emily makes requests for dolls that cry real tears or a stuffed animal that makes real animal noises. Then without fail, after she gets these dolls or animals, she is soon shoving them under her bed or in the closet. They have either made her mad because she wants the baby or puppy to be happy and it wont stop crying or they just plain scare her. By having toys with pre-programed electronic responses she has lost her right to use her imagination and make her dolly or stuffed animal act how she dreams it to act. Though she may not be completely aware of this and may be drawn to the noise making toys lining the store shelves, at home it's her hand-made and simple softies that are played with religiously.


The same holds true for the boys toys as well. We bought Jacob one of those expensive robots that does it all- right down to bowling and dancing. He played with it for a sum total of 3 days and it has sat on his locker every since. Its the same problem as the dolly. The robot is neat but it takes from Jacobs right of imagination. The simple Legos, however get played with nearly every day. See where I am going with this?

So, after some observation and hard thinking (but not too hard, we are after all the tired and sleep deprived parents of 5) we have found that the toys that are loved the most are the toys that are the simplest- dolls that don't talk/walk/cry, blocks, Legos, GI Joes that don't shout orders, softies and good ol' classic board games.

So, it's back to the basics for us this Christmas. I have pulled out all the fabrics and craft books and already started my army of dollies and softies. Rocky has pulled out his wood working books and tools and already begun his attack on his list of Christmas to-dos. And the kids- amazingly enough- have also pulled out their list of things that they would like to make for each other. Did you hear that? EACH OTHER!! Amazing! So, when visiting, please don't mind the piles of wood, fabric, stuffing and books. Just step high and gently over them. We assure you, the couch is still there.

And now our request to you goes out. When thinking of gifts for the kids this year, think creatively and crafty. Handmade is always wonderful and loved immensely. For those who are not so crafty and are time-challenged, think craft supplies, books and games.