My Family Came Up with a Holiday Called Giving Day, and It Was a Bit of a Mess

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I absolutely adore the excitement and anticipation of new traditions, but the planning and expectations? Not so much. So when my eldest son, Ethan, proposed that we create a family holiday called Giving Day, I had mixed feelings.

The idea was straightforward: we would draw names, exchange little gifts, spend quality time together, and then, in his words, “go back to our normal day.” I was intrigued and a little surprised. “What inspired this idea?” I asked. “I thought it would be fun,” he replied. While I appreciated his creativity and spirit of generosity, I worried that Giving Day might just turn into a day filled with excess stuff and unnecessary spending.

As someone who aspires to live minimally, I always aim to reduce clutter, not add to it. Plus, with my partner and me already juggling a million responsibilities, I wasn’t thrilled about adding one more holiday to our busy schedules. Still, Ethan’s excitement was infectious, and I found myself drawn to his concept. We discussed how Giving Day could focus on two key elements: giving and togetherness.

“What if we also do something nice for others outside our family?” I suggested. “Yes!” he replied eagerly. “We could bake cookies for our neighbors or help someone in need.” We brainstormed various ways to ensure Giving Day was about more than just us, and talked about how to keep it budget-friendly. “How about we make our gifts or buy small ones?” Ethan proposed. “Sure, and you can use your own money for it,” I replied. He reminded me that his younger brother, Sam, might need some assistance since he didn’t have his own funds yet.

Confident about Giving Day, Ethan marked it on the calendar with big, bold letters. A few days before the event, we drew names to see who would give gifts to whom. We planned to exchange gifts and then bake cookies for our neighbors. The boys were excited and asked for help with their gift ideas.

When Giving Day finally arrived, I was filled with optimism, which usually leads to unrealistic expectations and potential disappointment. After a relatively calm start, we exchanged gifts. Ethan gave me a lovely notebook; I gifted my partner some gourmet snacks; Sam got Ethan a superhero mask, and Ethan received a quirky toy from Sam. I snapped some happy pictures, but soon, the bliss faded.

What was meant to be Giving Day quickly devolved into Sibling Rivalry Day, followed by I Want Yours Day, which then turned into Yelling Day and Go to Your Room Day. We did manage to push through and bake cookies for our neighbors, but by the time we delivered them, it was pouring rain.

In many ways, that first Giving Day didn’t meet my expectations. There were more tears and bickering than I had hoped for, but it also exceeded my expectations in other ways. The little girl next door called to thank us for the cookies; her joy was infectious. The boys decided that next year, we should create handmade gifts. I later wrote some thoughts in my new journal, a special gift from my son.

We recently celebrated our second Giving Day, and just like the first, it was far from perfect. A broken water heater meant my partner stayed home with the plumber instead of joining us for our plans to pack food at a local charity. Five-year-old Sam even cried when Ethan gave him a drawing because it didn’t include his favorite football team. But despite the hiccups, I’m already looking forward to next Giving Day. Family holidays are messy, but they are filled with love, care, and the spirit of generosity—gifts that truly matter.

If you’re interested in similar topics, check out some of our other blogs, like this one on pregnancy and home insemination.

In the end, it’s often our children who remind us of the true essence of giving.

Summary

A family’s attempt to create a new holiday, Giving Day, is filled with both excitement and unexpected chaos. With a focus on generosity and togetherness, the day features home-made gifts and community kindness, but also sibling rivalry and emotional moments. Despite the challenges, the joy of family bonds shines through, making it a day to remember and look forward to in the future.