Christmas: Lessons in Giving
![Christmas: Lessons in Giving 1 A2Z Science and Nature store provides the kinds of gifts I feel good about giving my grandkids.](https://maxhartshorne.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/IMG_4216-1.jpg)
Christmas marks the years; it’s more than a holiday, it’s kind of the bookend of a whole year. This year was a bit different, in that I didn’t feel that urge and compulsion to worry about buying presents. I just got a few things for Mary and didn’t get all worked up about what to buy for my grandchildren. Then Kate my daughter passed along a blessing when she said: “Don’t buy Jon and me gifts, we can’t afford to buy you any.” Ok then.
But I did enjoy my one shopping outing when I went down to Northampton on a Tuesday afternoon to visit A2Z Science and Learning store.
There I found the perfect gifts–and even had them gift wrapped by the friendly staff there. I picked out a giant four-foot long puzzle of the human body, two-sided, for my granddaughter Sofie, and a set of science experiments with beakers, test tubes and formulas for her as well.
![Christmas: Lessons in Giving 2 Playing with a remote-controlled car at A2Z.](https://maxhartshorne.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/IMG_4215-1.jpg)
Then I seized upon what I thought would be a great gift for my grandson, Nathan. It was a tiny drone, with propellers about one-inch long. He had all sorts of ideas about what he wanted on his Amazon wish list, but I felt l like giving him a toy, something he could play with, instead of something he could watch or consume visually. Sorry to say it was not a good choice, as the drone barely flies and he wants me to return it.
![Christmas: Lessons in Giving 3 Freddy plays with a train set at Christmas.](https://maxhartshorne.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/IMG_4235.jpg)
When his mother called, (he was worried about upsetting me so he had her do it) he said he wanted me to buy credits for video games. I refused. Sorry, but can’t I still buy you toys and fun presents?
So I guess I’ll wait to hear from the lad…he’ll come up with something from Amazon, something kind of boring and that requires no trip to a magic store like A2Z. Oh well, that’s life.
I also enjoyed spending time with two little boys this Christmas. James and Freddy, my girlfriend’s two-year-old grandsons.
I so enjoyed watching Freddy play with a train set and watching the two of them interact. They’re still at those tiny ages where play is everything and they’ve never heard of Amazon.