Ever since they were little, my daughters have loved Advent calendars. It’s a tangible way to count down how many more nights until Santa comes… and to eat chocolate every day! It’s really hard to walk past the checkout counters at the grocery store or drugstore with all those kids’ calendars lined up, each filled with chocolates that seem more artificial than the last.
So I decided that this year, we’d try a different kind of Advent calendar. After looking at about twenty creative calendars on Pinterest—each one more beautiful than the last—I have to admit that DIY and I just don’t mix.
Then a Facebook post caught my eye: giving away one item a day. Suddenly, the image of a minimalist home popped into my head! Plus, I excel at volunteering, empathy, compassion, and helping others. So that’s the theme of our Advent calendar. We’re going to combine business with pleasure! In a pretty basket, we’ll all put one item a day that we no longer use. A toy, a piece of clothing, a kitchen item, a book.
This year, we’re giving our unwanted items a second life. We’ll take our basket to the St. Vincent de Paul Society or the refugee center in our neighborhood. I hope this will raise my children’s awareness while also decluttering my home.
The idea didn’t exactly thrill my daughters… but they didn’t complain either. Parting with their things is still a challenge, but they’re old enough to understand and want to make a difference. The thought of children in need makes them sad.
We attended our first food drive this year, and the girls witnessed people’s generosity; in addition to the piggy bank filling up, they saw bags full of clothes and toys being donated. Their empathy is growing, as is their sense of doing good. Add to that the fact that they’re dreaming of their teenage bedrooms (I’m freaking out here… they’re 9 and 11 years old)… so letting go of certain items becomes easier.
I’m thinking of doing this for 15 days this year. For a family of four, it’s not a bad equation: 4 items × 15 days!!! That way, we’ll donate our haul in time for the Christmas food baskets.
Lydia Alder