1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning. 2 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: tip is that in many cases, experiences can be more 4 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: novel and exciting than things. We often think of gifts 5 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: as objects that are wrapped, but by expanding the universe 6 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: of gifts to consider experiences, we may increase the chances 7 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:39,160 Speaker 1: of giving someone something they really like. For the past 8 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:42,160 Speaker 1: few years, my husband and I have given our older 9 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,600 Speaker 1: boys a short trip each year as a big Christmas present. 10 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: For instance, in twenty twenty three, I took my second 11 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: oldest to Acadia National Park. In twenty twenty four, my 12 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 1: husband took him on a diving trip. In twenty twenty four, 13 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,040 Speaker 1: I took my oldest child to New York City for 14 00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:03,600 Speaker 1: a few days. These were fun for the kids and 15 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: were really good bonding experiences. Sometimes it's hard to get 16 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: a lot of one on one time with a teenage boy, 17 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: but a trip kind of forces the process. I've also 18 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: given my husband the gift of a weekend off to 19 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 1: go do something fun with his brother. For instance, they 20 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 1: went skiing for a weekend once. My husband skis with 21 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: our kids a lot, but he was happy for the 22 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: chance to go without worrying about helping someone else into 23 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: a snowsuit. Perhaps you too have someone in your life 24 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: who would enjoy a special experience. You might promise to 25 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:44,520 Speaker 1: take an older relative out to lunch, into a museum. 26 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: You might take a teenager to a pro sports event 27 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: in a town an hour away. If you are co 28 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: parenting with someone, you could each give each other the 29 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: gift of a weekend or a few days away, available 30 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: for whatever you choose to do within your budget, secure 31 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: that all the childcare and household needs are covered. That 32 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: sounds better to me than a scarf. Little kids do 33 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 1: like toys, and it's fine to get them those toys. 34 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: But I also heard a great idea the other day 35 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: of giving an elementary school aged child a coupon book 36 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: for lots of different little experiences. These would be things 37 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: like staying up half an hour later or going out 38 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 1: for ice cream with dad. The child could cash these 39 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:33,000 Speaker 1: in when they wanted them and enjoy getting those experiences 40 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,119 Speaker 1: over a longer time rather than just on a holiday. 41 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: So as you are thinking about your gift list, see 42 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: if you can add in a few experiences alongside the 43 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: things you are wrapping. And by the way, you can 44 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: definitely wrap an experience. When I gave my husband permission 45 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: to go on that ski trip, I wrapped up a 46 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: pair of doll skis for him. If you are taking 47 00:02:57,800 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: someone to a concert, you could give them a T 48 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 1: shirt or other merch from that artist that gives you 49 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 1: something under the tree and also the knowledge that the 50 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 1: fun will last, likely long after that tree is gone. 51 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 1: Experiences can make memories, and those tend not to run 52 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: out of batteries or get broken quite so quickly. In 53 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's 54 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: to making the most of our time. Thanks for listening 55 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, 56 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 1: you can reach me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. 57 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts 58 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 59 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.