Friday, December 18, 2020 3 Brooklin Town Crier continued from page 2 especially for a larger chap. Seems not, something else I don't quite get, given today's medical warnings. Anyway, I long suspected that my parents, who stood within earshot of my wish list to him, hijacked my requests, leaving him with just one token gift to give. I was never able to prove it, but the suspicion still lingers. Our lives are more complicated than Santa's. His seems to boil down to a few weeks of sitdowns and mostly monosyllabic exchanges with kids, plus one annual crazy travel night. Yet we continue to visit him each year, have done so for eons, and take pleasure in seeing him wave as he chortles a simplistic three-word greeting. That last visit? As we were leaving, with the wee ones out of the way, I asked him about a more upscale SUV. He didn't question the request nor wonder if I could afford it. He just said with a wry grin, "I hear ya." Completely non-committal. Another yearly feel-good moment from our finest public servant. Our Brooklin Kids By Leanne Brown When Children Give This time of year, we often show our appreciation for those who help our children grow and succeed such as teachers, tutors and coaches. They spend hours with our children and have an immense influence on them. However, sometimes when our kids give pretty packages and gift cards, they've had little to do with picking out the gift. It's important to teach kids the meaning of giving, which is why I always bring my daughter to choose the gift. This way, she actually thinks of the person we're buying it for. Yes, we do sometimes resort to gift cards but she chooses the card's design. I also always insist she write the card and I don't correct her spelling unless she asks. To her, they're authentic and how she wants to xxpress herself. This year, there are 10 teachers and coaches on our list. Given she plays several competitive sports, it's typically a solid afternoon of effort. Nevertheless, the one for her figure skating coach is unique. A special gift Instead of a store-bought gift, this coach asks her students to they give of themselves. It can be any good deed or act of kindness they choose. They then share the details with her in a homemade holiday card. For my daughter, it makes this gift incredibly important; it isn't just a quick donation to a charity. Last year, she gave back by sharing her love of her favourite sport. For several mornings in December, she got up to attend 6 am house league U7 hockey practices. She helped tie skates, demonstrate skills, and generally acted as a role model. She put in two hours each Saturday for three weeks. After, she commented how much she respects her own coaches. Coaching, she said, is hard work. This year, helping coaches is not an option so we're working on a new, safe, social distancing idea. I'm reinforcing that what her coach is asking for is not a monetary gift but rather a gift of her time. She's come up with a really good idea that came from the heart, though it involves me giving some time, too, as she needs some help with the sewing machine. Caring But the real takeaway is this: children need to understand that giving isn't about buying a trinket at a store. It's about showing someone how you care or appreciate them. I watch her write the cards at the kitchen table and notice her pause in thought as she chooses her words. When she hands out her gifts, I'll see the delight in her eyes while she watches people open them. As her skating coach reminds me, when children give of themselves, it means more to both the recipients and the child.