It's terrible! That I have not taught my children what it means to give. I always got them things. Christmas is not our holiday, and yet ever since my kids were little, we had a tree with lots of gifts from Santa.Older today, yet the tradition continues. I never once stopped to think that if my boys want a Lego or a ball, there are 100's of kids around the world that need something. Yes, we all console ourselves as we do give in some way or the other, sponsoring and attending gala's for a good cause, and spending 100's on what to wear, giving to a non-profit that raises money for a disease or whatever. What I'm trying to say here is our kids don't see this ."Monkey see monkey do," children are as simple as that.

As we all get ready for the holidays, what I realize is that for many of us from different cultures and religions this is not our holiday, and yet our kids get gifts because the festive energy in the air is about gifts. Take your child/children and look right around where you are and find a family or a person or a shelter and go and do your giving, so your child can see and experience what giving is.

In this age where we are slaves of technology, donations can be made through a text message and a click of a button or where giving is over cocktails at a fancy gala. We owe it to our children, to provide them with the experience of touching someone's life in person. Not just through the click of a button. I want to add that technology has made it so much easier for everyone to give and by that helped millions of people globally, I do not mean to belittle the great work that non-profit organizations all around the world do.I know it takes an army and huge hearts to make what they do possible, but what your child/children will experience through giving in person will change their lives forever.

So as your kids make a list of what they want, make it a family tradition of making a list of places where you can give in person.