In a perfect world we would do this with our children every day, not just Christmas! I know there are families who do that, which is great. But I find it is no easy task at the best of times!

Yes,ur presencis most important. Not only with Xmas, but every day of our life love and attention is of the most high value to our children and spouses, our family and friends.

Agree with this article. Children need our love and our attention – means more to them in the long run than toys they outgrow and throw away.

Your Presences I say is the best thing you can give your child for Christmas. Some poor children get neither for Christmas they get nothing and I really feel for them. All children deserve both or just your presences if you can’t afford to buy them anything. I hate to think how many children go without anything at Christmas there are plenty of charity’s that can help with the material things at Christmas You just have to ask for help But a child should NEVER go without your PRESENCES ANYTIME

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  • • Robyn replied
    • 19 Jan 2016 , 9:02 pm

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  Absolutely agree with you!

One of ours asked for a netball uniform to play netball. Her Mum thought it a bit strange as she had never talked about playing netball apart from trying to shoot goals on the ring on the end of their swing set. A few days later during a discussion she actually wanted a uniform because she reckoned it looked pretty. A totally unexpected response. She asked for a couple of other things that were anything but safe, then they reached a compromise. Santa provided part of the uniform for a volunteer group. Mum and Dad waited until the rest of it was needed before they bought it a few weeks later.

great read thanks for sharing

Presence is certainly more important at a special time of the year.

This is so true, i know alot of people that seem to forget this and go overboard with presents

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  • • Robyn replied
    • 27 Dec 2015 , 4:01 pm

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  Me too, and it is shame because when all the presents are opened the kids are still left looking for presence.

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    • • mom94125 replied
      • 28 Dec 2015 , 11:37 am

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    yep and time spent with the family is time well spent. Yes i definately took some time out on the busy christmas day, just to chill with my kids. it made the day so special and my busy day paused for awhile and i really enjoyed myself!

Kids and aged people need our full attention and we need to be fully in the moment with them without any distractions. It is the most wonderful gift you can give to another person.

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  • • mom93821 replied
    • 30 Dec 2015 , 5:26 pm

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  We can have both – it is about knowing what is important.

Presence, absolutely! Gifts don’t mean a thing if you don’t give your time to your kids. And the time you spend with them, well, that’s what they will remember when they grow up. Not the presents.

Presents sure, but nothing beats the present of having true presence with another…

For me presence is more important, and not only with christmas but every day. I love it when people are reallly present with me, listening, open and not busy with other things. So for me presence is the biggest gift, to give and to receive.

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  • • Robyn replied
    • 03 Jan 2016 , 8:25 pm

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  I agree, to be with someone you feel is absolutely ‘there’ with you is so very healing and very much needed in our world today with all the busy-ness that is running rampant.

For me the biggest gift with christmas (and every day) is presence. Not only with children, but with everybody. I love it when I feel that somebody if truly with me, listening, open and not busy with other things. For me that is the biggest gift, to give and to receive.

yeah obviously we are their priority just as they are ours! i think that it is not the material item you give but the fact that you want them to be happy and know that they are loved.

Lke he

A lovely story. Totally agree that our time and attention as parents is more important than anything. Sometimes it is very easy to get caught up in the rush of hectic daily life with so many distractions and we forget that all our children really need is our presence.

This is so true. And as for the presents, we need to to take time to truly engage with our children’s enjoyment of them them too.

My daughter used to volunteer at her school and for 2 years she used to go to the local nursing home and sing Christmas carols to them and she was really moved by the appreciation of the people listening to the songs. This had give her an insight that giving is more important than receiving especially to a much needed community service .

I really enjoyed this story. I definetly think the gift of presence needs to be given alot more attention.