Post Christmas clean up

Image via Wikipedia

How was your Christmas? Lots of fun and busy, busy, busy? If you have kids, did they get inundated with lots of pressies? I bet they were excited! I love it when Santa comes to visit :o)








So.... what are you going to do with all the toys the kids don't want anymore? Please don't tell me you are going to bin them! Consider donating the ones in good nick to your local charity shop or foster care agency, (no junk though, these kids have been through enough).


Personally, I'm a bit of a 'bah humbug!' when it comes to Christmas. It's starts way to early for me, like - October! Just as Easter apparently has begun with the eggs already on shelves in some places.

I'm all for the Christmas spirit, but I really think it should be all year round. I'm pretty sure that's what the bearded guy who died on the cross was after. (I went to a Catholic school, but I'm not Catholic, more Agnostic).

Maybe the shops start Christmas so early because they think the Christmas spirit should start earlier as well! Doubt it though LOL!

It's the blatant marketing to the kids that really gets me. Fair enough if you don't subscribe to the fella upstairs but still, I think the whole idea of 'giving' at Christmas has been lost. For kids it seems to be about 'getting' the latest whatever it is and chucking a tanty if they don't get it under the tree!

So I have to ask, do you encourage your kids to make or purchase Christmas presents for family members or friends? If they get pocket money, do they buy mum or dad a gift (with help from the other parent obviously) and wrap it and put it under the tree?

When I was a kid, Dad would 'secretly' give me and my little brother $20 to buy something for mum, and Mum would 'secretly' do the same thing!!! (we didn't get pocket money and still had to do our jobs!).

Related articles

• Bah Humbug (socyberty.com)
• Create Proof that Santa Exists -- And Help Less Fortunate Kids (prweb.com)
• Top Five Toys For Christmas 2010 - Xiamen, China (travelpod.com)

New Arrivals

I really have to thank all those generous ladies who responded so quickly to my call for help on Facebook last week. I was almost completely out of soft toys to include in the backpacks and nappy bags. In fact I had only 4 left and a giant Kermit the Frog!

So far this week (Tuesday), I have received two parcels of pre loved toys and a backpack filled with toys, clothes and other bits an pieces.

I especially asked for pre loved soft toys. Why? Because I believe they already have love inside them, and something ready to give to a child who may be sad, confused or just plain tuckered out.

The quality of the toys that arrived has been top notch. These toys have obviously been well cared for. Even if they were sitting on a shelf, they have come from a home full of love. I know this because of the very fact they were sent on to B4AK.

Those who know me well are not surprised that I whisper something special to each toy before I zip the bag up. I loved that movie Toy Story because it was something I think we all secretly believe. So I say to the toys, 'Ok now, you are going to be with a child that really needs you, they may not like you to start with but please take good care of them and show them that love is real and for them'. Or words to that effect.

Silly? Probably, but for a few of these children, this teddy will be with them through some of the hardest parts of their young lives.

So, thank you to those who have sent toys, made monetary donations, given clothes or words of support and encouragement.

I really believe that 'if we can' - 'we should'. In this case, make a positive difference in a child's life.