This year I had an idea. It started when I bought a present for a child’s birthday party last spring. After much deliberation (price, was it the right “fit” for the child, Olivia didn’t think her friend would like it, etc…) I decided on another toy-choice. The only problem: returning this perfectly great toy. I didn’t want to make the effort (finding the receipt, waiting at customer service - heck, just going to the store - again)… The toy sat in the mudroom for over a month, when it hit me. Toys for Tots, Toys for Tots…
Oh. Yeah! Why not? Around the hectic Christmas shopping season, we always intend to donate toys, but I find that particular shopping to-do shamefully gets dropped to a low-spot on the list. Inevitably, the intended good deed either gets bumped or there is a stressful mad dash to grab a few extra toys. Fortunately, I have a bin for “stockpiling and event preparedness”, so I popped that un-returned birthday toy into this special bin.
This can also go for received birthday presents that may “miss the mark” for your child… or toys that the parental units decide the kid does not need… or it is something the child or a sibling already has. Many give gift receipts these days, but I have found that my kids have never inquired about the toys I quietly set aside. Not once.
As a busy mom who longs to be prepared, but seldom is - now there is a wonderful stack of toys we get to give- some we bought, some we received. It’s a little twist on the “re-gift” philosophy. Just an idea I thought worth sharing.
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An EXCELLENT idea.