Time is a beautiful gift.
There never seems to be enough of it, and yet I don’t know what to do with myself when I actually have time and no specific plans to fill it. I literally go into some sort of delirium trying to figure out what to do with myself. It’s absurd.
Most parents of younger children can probably relate this to dropping the kids off at grandma and grandpa’s house for the night. You find yourselves so overwhelmed by the possibilities of what you could do with your time that you end up not doing anything at all. Which is TOTALLY COOL, guys! Seriously. Catch some zzz’s and just be. It’s good for your soul. Maybe this is God’s way of forcing us to chill for a bit and reset?
We’re living in this high-speed-chase of a world to get to the next new thing – next promotion, next house, next car, next vacation, next big job, next child, next phone… And on top of that, we’re always left wanting more – more stuff, more food, more devices, faster internet, more clothes, more money, more decor, more friends, a bigger house, more shoes, more everything.
There has to be a line somewhere, right? Where ambition and drive meet contentment and fulfillment? I have to believe so. I think we’re all struggling with how to find that balance. Especially in our society, where there’s just no end to the madness. If you’re not winning, you’re losing. And the definition of winning is what again? I suppose I could just go scroll through Instagram or Facebook to figure it out – that’s where perfection lies these days.
And then, at the very bottom of list, buried under all of our shit, we’re really just grasping for more time. Aren’t we? Isn’t that what this whole thing is about… living life spending time, not money? When did money become so powerful, I wonder?
Money has it’s place
Don’t get me wrong, I do believe money has a very important place in our lives. I believe it can provide a great sense of freedom that leads to happiness and contentment. But I challenge you (and myself) to consider spending more time than money this holiday season (and possibly in your life in general?).
Since I became a SAHM about a year ago, I’ve been entrenched in this reversal of my ways… My job and number one priority is now to spend time, not money. Spend time caring for and raising our children, tending to our home and actually living in our home, spending time in nature, caring for and actually spending time with our pets, visiting and spending time with loved ones and friends, etc.
Whoa. That’s been a bit of a shock to the system. Ha! While I do enjoy spending money (just ask my husband!), I’m becoming more fulfilled and content just by spending time on things that actually matter – our children, our home, the people who mean the most to us.
long story short…
So, loooong story short, I’m trying to be more intentional with my time (and therefore, money). I believe one of the best ways to do this is to create or give experiences to those around us. Yes, you’ll likely have to spend a little money to enjoy the experience. But the point is that you are spending money to spend time. You’re not spending money to gain stuff. That’s the key difference.
And it could be that this means many different things to many people. Maybe instead of donating $100 worth of product to a local charity, you volunteer eight hours of your day there? Maybe instead of cutting a check to eat at a local community fundraiser/dinner, you volunteer your time to help for that event?
The list goes on… and I’m not preaching here, because I’m saying these things to myself just as much as I am to you. I’m just providing food for thought, I guess. I know there is always a shortage of volunteers – which is an excellent way to spend time, not money.
With the holidays right around the corner, I thought I’d round up a solid list of non-toy gifts that will create experiences for you and your loved ones – time and memories!
This is a great list with kids in mind, but I think you can take these ideas and find something that would work for the adults in your life, too.
Please Note: *There are affiliate and referral links included in this post. Should you choose to click through and purchase using one of my links, I may be compensated (at no extra cost to you). I thank you in advance for your support.*
gifts of time
1. Amazon Prime Book Box
I ran across this while browsing Amazon a few weeks ago and thought it was great! We always need new books around here! Amazon Prime Book Box is a subscription service where the reader of your choice will receive books at designated intervals (every 1, 2, or 3 months).
Boxes for babies 0-2 years old get four board books in each box, and children ages 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 will receive two hardcover books in each box. These are hand-picked books specifically chosen for the age-range of your reader/s!
A couple of things to note – you’ll need an Amazon Prime Membership to take advantage of this service. The cost is only $19.99 per box (I believe the first box is just $16.99). I think that’s a great value. I also really like the flexibility of sending a box once a quarter, every other month, or every single month. This will allow for flexibility in your budget.
I think a great way to get time out of this gift would be to dedicate an afternoon or day with your reader to spend time reading their new books with them and watching their little imaginations go wild. You could even pair it with a corresponding activity! It would also be fun to have the boxes delivered to your home so that there is anticipation built up for when you invite your reader to come for a visit!
2. Kiwi Co Box
If you haven’t heard of these yet, please go visit their site to learn more now! These are the coolest boxes. Not only are they awesome for the kiddo you are gifting them to, but I can assure you that Mom and Dad will enjoy the simplicity of the activities that bring out the fun in learning!
Kiwi Co has curated hands-on subscription boxes for different age groups beginning from baby all the way through to adulthood (Yes, you can even get one for yourself!). The boxes are STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) focused. Here’s a quote directly from their website:
“We make STEAM accessible, engaging, and fun. Our goal is to inspire kids to see themselves as scientists, artists, and makers.“
We have gotten a couple of these boxes so far for Myles. It’s super fun for him to get some “happy mail”, and it’s also really fun for both of us to spend time working through the activities that are educational. I hope to get Gracelyn going on one soon, too!
Here are some photos of us working on Myles’ first box:
What I like most is that there are a variety of ways to use each element in the box, and its all spelled out for the grownup who’s supervising/assisting. I never feel like what I’m doing, from an educational standpoint, is up to par with what I should be doing to keep Myles challenged and engaged. These boxes lay everything out for me, and they also inspire me to use other activities around the house in different ways.
If you’re interested in trying a Kiwi Co. Box, you can use my referral link here to save some money on your first box. Enjoy!
3. Children’s Museum Outing/membership
If you aren’t familiar with what a children’s museum is, don’t fret! We had no idea what they were either until we tried our local one. We just heard the word “museum” and assumed it was simply just that… a museum about children! Haha!
Here’s a definition I found on Wikipedia that I felt did a great job describing the experience: Children’s museums are institutions that provide exhibits and programs to stimulate informal learning experiences for children. In contrast with traditional museums that typically have a hands-off policy regarding exhibits, children’s museums feature interactive exhibits that are designed to be manipulated by children.
You can visit the Association of Children’s Museum’s website here to learn more and even search for a Children’s Museum near you.
Des Moines has a great Children’s Museum that they’ve recently just expanded. It is awesome! For a gift, you can simply take your little humans on an outing to the museum, or you can even buy a family membership to the museum. We’ve also been to the Omaha Children’s Museum, and it was on a whole other level. Take a peek at the Omaha Children’s Museum setup…
4. tickets to Local Attractions
Tickets to Local Attractions/Events – think outside the holiday season. You can always check out the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CatchDesMoines for my local followers) for ideas in your area. If you feel like you need to “give” something tangible, get a little gift that will serve as a clue for the outing that coincides with what you’re doing. Here are some fun considerations:
- Rodeo – Des Moines has the World’s Toughest Rodeo that comes to town each January.
- Concert – There are SO many options for seeing a concert these days…Google!
- Show – Disney on Ice, Jurassic World Tour, Harlem Globetrotters, etc.
- A Play – Check your local Playhouse for upcoming shows.
- Escape Room – These are super fun when the kids are a bit older.
- Movie Night – Don’t forget about Drive-In Movies, too!
- Fairs – Don’t forget about your county fairs, as well as state fairs. I’ve also heard good things about Renaissance Fairs!
5. Local Programs & Classes
Check your local Parks and Recreation programs and activities brochure for a bunch of different options! These are excellent opportunities to cultivate early interests, while still remaining affordable and not huge time commitments. Here are some offerings that I’ve seen in the past that may pique your interest:
- Pottery
- Cooking
- Woodworking
- Art
- Yoga
- Sports
- Geocaching
- Junior Robotics
- Crafts
This may not be something you can do with your loved one, but it’s certainly an experience you can provide for them that they will really enjoy and remember! Maybe it is something that you can commit to taking the child to, as well. Make it a weekly get together where you can enjoy each other’s company, and maybe add getting dinner or something to the agenda, too.
6. zoo/science center/Living history farms memberships
We were gifted a Blank Park Zoo Membership for Christmas last year, and it has been awesome to have all year! It’s been so nice to go to the zoo whenever we feel like it. We especially enjoy going on “Member Day”, which is every Monday, and we pretty much have the place to ourselves and the kids have a ton of fun running around checking things out (we meet up with some friends who have a membership, too)!
The zoo is something everyone can enjoy. If you give a zoo membership to your loved ones, it’ll be great for you to join in on the fun a few times, too. If you don’t want to go to the expense of an annual membership, plan a day trip to go with them instead.
Science Centers have similar membership setups, but you get the benefit of it being indoors for the colder months. The Science Center of Iowa is very cool for children of all ages. We’ve taken our niece and nephew there before and they couldn’t get enough!
Another option for anyone local in Central Iowa would be to look into a Living History Farms membership. I loved spending time there as a kid, and I remember going to different camps there during the summertime. You can look into different classes and camps that they offer for your little loved one. I actually just saw that they offer Winter Break Day Camps… fun!
They’ve also started incorporating more adult-oriented events that are fun to attend. Eric and I went to their Cheese Festival a few years ago…I was newly pregnant with our first, and I’d purchased our tickets prior to finding out. Needless to say, I was a sad bystander for that event. All those soft cheeses and all that yummy wine was enjoyed by everyone else but me. (insert: sad face)
7. Hit the road!
If you’re the adventurous type, plan a short road trip with your loved one/s! There are plenty of sights to see locally (wherever you are!), so don’t overthink it. Pick a destination that’s a few hours away and go for it! Half the fun is in the journey anyway.
Stop at cool little cafes, shops, and/or museums that catch your eye along the way. Task your sidekick/s with navigation for the trip, and let him/her choose stops along the way! This would be an excellent gift of time for kids ages 8-12, I’d think.
If you want to extend your time consider camping, renting a cabin, staying at a Bed & Breakfast, etc. to make the most of your experience together and try lodging that’s a bit outside the box.
time well spent
Whew. Reading back through those ideas gives me a bit of anxiety just thinking about the effort and time I’d need to put in to make them happen. But, I also envision how much joy we’d all get from having this time spent together. I can vividly see the memories now in my mind. I’m also invigorated and excited to make some of these come to life for different family members!
And don’t worry, there will be no judgment coming from my corner if you decide to buy all the toys, and give all the best gift cards, and spend all the money! I’m sure I’ll be doing a bit of all of this, as well. But, I’m also going to be more intentional about spending the time, and not worrying so much about spending the money.
Tell me, do you already practice spending time instead of spending money? I’d love to hear from you and what practices you have in place, especially for your holiday gifting! Or maybe you do a combination of it all? Let me know your strategy in the comments!
Leave a Reply