Christmas: Lessons in Giving

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A2Z Science and Nature store provides the kinds of gifts I feel good about giving my grandkids.
A2Z Science and Learning store provides the kinds of gifts I feel good about giving my grandkids.

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.

Playing with a remote-controlled car at A2Z.
Playing with a remote-controlled car at A2Z.

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.

Freddy plays with a train set at Christmas.
Freddy plays with a train set at Christmas.

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.