A Birthday Strategy Every Parent Should Try

Recently, my twins had their birthday. They’d given me a short list of things they wanted, and I was fully prepared to sit down and order everything. But the truth is…I don’t love shopping. The idea of scrolling through pages of products or heading out to a store wasn’t exactly lighting me up.

Then it hit me: What if I just gave them the money and let them order their own gifts—and surprise us in the process?
When I suggested it, their faces lit up. They were so excited. And honestly, the whole experience turned out to be far more fun than if I had done it myself.

What I hadn’t expected was just how much they would learn from it:

  • How to navigate purchasing things online

  • How to cancel an order on Amazon

  • How to compare prices, read reviews, and choose the best product

  • How to budget their money

  • How to wrap a present (always a useful life skill!)

The best part? They each spent less than I was originally planning to give them. And on their birthday, we actually got to be surprised. They were proud of their choices, thrilled with what they received, and confident because they were in charge.

It was a win-win. They got exactly what they wanted—and they gained real-life skills in the process.

Sometimes the best parenting moments happen when we hand over the reins just a little.

I would recommend this for kids that are a little older, say eight and up.  But, there are still parts of it that you could hand over to your child.  

Remember when we allow them to do things for themselves that facilitates confidence and competence.  They go hand in hand.  Our job as parents is to teach them so they can go in to the world and do things for themselves. 

-Megan

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What to do when you don't know what to do.

What to do when you don't know what to do. Parenting can be hard.  There are times when I don't know what to do when: The kids are fighting. My teen comes home late. My son is having a tantrum. My son is crying. My child can't sleep. I feel mad, annoyed, irritated, etc. and I want to threaten and have all these consequences, but I know in the moment I am reacting.   As much as possible I try to keep my mouth shut until I am calmer so I don't say anything I regret. So here are a few things you can think that will help you to know what to do. 1.  ALLOW whatever feeling you are feeling.  Sometimes I feel bad that I feel annoyed and am not as kind as I'd like to be.  I am actually resisting what I'm feeling and that makes it worse.  So just LET yourself feel whatever you are in the moment.   2. REMIND yourself that this is just a moment.  You won't feel like this forever.  Find a phrase you believe that helps you remember not to react i...
Read more

The Parenting 4C’s: Connection, Compassion, Confidence, Communication

I was always terrified to have teens. I can honestly say that it's been way more fun than I ever thought. I have worked hard on myself, certified as a life coach, and been coached and continue to get coached A LOT, and have learned to love the way I parent and learned to love my kids for who they are. From 18 years of experience with my own kids, teaching for 19 years and 5+ years of coaching I have found these 4C's are the most beneficial in helping parents in their parenting and maximizing the relationship with their kids. I am teaching a class on each of these 4C's starting in October. You'll learn more about them and how to apply them. All of these in conjunction with coaching make parenting easier and more fun. PLUS it'll help you with your teens. Relationships contribute to our overall happiness. You have the power to create the relationships you want. 1. Connection ➡ Building strong bonds and presence. Learn how to be intentional with time and attenti...
Read more

Connection with your kids -3 practical things you can do.

Connection is a feeling.  If you want to feel more connected to your kids then it comes from what you think.   Connection doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s usually the little, consistent things that matter most. Here are three practical things parents can start doing right away: 1. Journal Each night before you go to bed write down something you noticed about your child. Something funny they said or did, something nice they said or did. Anything goes. I have done this for years, and it's so fun to look back on and my kids enjoy it too. I also pay more attention to and notice the good in them. 2. Share their world.  Connection doesn’t only happen in big conversations—it’s in the everyday moments. Show interest in what they care about, even if it's not your thing. Ask questions about their favorite: Youtube video, toy, sport or whatever. Sit next to them while they play a game or play with them (even chess🤪) When you show curiosity about what they care about i...
Read more