I’m experimenting on my kids.Don’t tell them that. Some of you actually know my kids, so I’m serious.
What’s the experiment? For several years, I’ve been curating lack in their lives.
Before you call Protective Services, don’t worry… my kids are clothed and fed.
But here’s what I mean:
Convenience in America has turned into quite the little beast. Somewhere along the line, convenience has blurred into my “right.”
Consumerism is good at this, dishing out a hefty “You deserve _______” message anywhere from 6,000-10,000 times a day.
Says who? Who says I deserve the shiny new car?
What if Americans have lost all sense of lack?
What if Americans don’t even know HOW to be thankful anymore?
If you pulled a kid from a slum in a developing country, and handed them a nicely wrapped Christmas present, I don’t think they would say, “I deserve two Christmas presents instead of one.” I think they’d just be thankful for anything – maybe some food – and clothes – and shelter.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, my kids expect more than one Christmas present. That’s why they make a Christmas list.
As I’ve been slowly wrapping gifts throughout this season, my girls are keeping family score of who’s who under the tree. Perhaps this is a silly game, (pretty sure I did it as a kid, too), or perhaps this is a spot for teaching.
Trouble is, I’m a gifter mom – I love a good ol’ pile of Christmas presents that will make them squeal and squirm until Christmas morning.
But after last Christmas, I put a sticky note in my brain that simply read too much.
What would happen if we could curate some lack in our kids’ lives in order to create thankfulness.
Will we scar them for life? Hopefully not.
Umm, Fresh off the Farm lady… are you saying you don’t get your poor, deprived children anything FUN?!!
I never said that!
I’ve actually found that this experiment has helped my kids think more clearly about what they wanted for Christmas. In the past, their Christmas list would literally NEVER. END. They just keep adding and adding and adding to them every time they open their eyes anywhere like addicted little consumers. Not so this year. They have identified a few things that they REALLY wanted, and Jonathan and I were happy to get it for them.
Would you like to join my experiment?
Where do your kids need some lack?
Where do we need some lack?
Perhaps it isn’t pajamas or toothbrushes, but maybe a little desire somewhere would be good for us. Not crazy consumerism desire, but actual “lack” desire.
How would Christmas feel differently if we actually needed the things under our tree? I’d venture to say we’d have a Merrier Christmas.
Ready to try it with me? Check out my “recipe” for lack below.
Meet your farmer – Liz Gerdes. She and her husband run a farm-to-table raw milk dairy. They empower moms to confidently feed their families nutrient-dense food using farm fresh milk! Visit gerdesfreshfarm.com or follow her on Facebook @gerdesfreshfarm or Instagram @gerdesliz for more info.
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