Brooklin Town Crier My daughter recently displayed her presentation skills when she ran a powerpoint slideshow of her Christmas wish list. It included photos, links, colour preferences, sizes and prices. As she scrolled through several detailed slides, my husband and I did the cost calculations in our heads. The list contained just five items, four of which had already been purchased and squirreled away weeks ago. The remaining one, Taylor Swift concert tickets, weren't likely to happen. She even mentioned in her presentation that she didn't expect them. It's strange to think that a few years ago her lists were comprised of photos cut from toy catalogues and flyers that came in the junk mail. Back then, the lists contained 20 or 30 things. She doesn't ask for much and she also doesn't go without. She gets what she needs. She's learned that all the other things we pay for her to do are more valuable than clothes or electronics. This year, we discussed the cost of her sports and summer camp and the need to cut back. She didn't blink an eye when she said that she would happily give up Christmas and birthday gifts if she could keep summer camp. It's not going to come to that, but we did find ways to trim some activities that were waning in interest. At this time of year, many kids are asking for extravagant gifts. She shares some things her friends are requesting, like Dunks and Super Puff Jackets that cost hundreds of dollars. It puts so much pressure on parents but it puts pressure on the kids who can't expect those types of gifts and have to deal with the emotions of jealousy and exclusion. We were discussing how it feels when her friends talk about what they're getting. "It makes me feel like those kids are spoiled," she said, "and that they think they're better than everyone else. Especially when they show off about it. But you know what…a few months later they're looking for something else. It's like they're never satisfied. Always chasing trends." "But you don't really ask for those things," I said. "I don't really like them," she replied. "They are super expensive and not Brooklin Family Matters: by Leanne Brown What is the real gift? worth the money." "So what do you like?" "I like some of the stuff, but the thing is I won't remember those gifts." "What gifts do you remember?" She thought for a moment. "I remember when you and I went to see Cats and when we saw Hamilton and when Dad and I got World Juniors hockey tickets. Oh and my first hockey stick. I loved that skating dress. And I remember Magic." It's a stuffed unicorn she got when she was four. She still has it. She has a point. It's not the item itself, but the memories that surround it. I will always remember her reaction to getting the event tickets and her excitement leading up to attending it. Those unforgettable adventures become part of who we are. Plus the memories of a well-loved unicorn tagging along on so many adventures.That's the real gift.