The Perfect Gift

The past couple of years I've tried really hard to stick to the "something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read" mantra for buying Christmas gifts for my kids, but it's still so easy to go overboard or stress too much. As I look back at gifts I've received throughout the years, there's one gift that stands out from the others...

During my senior year of high school I got to go to NYC with the orchestra I was in, and we were able to pick a show to see on Broadway. I chose "Fiddler on the Roof" and loved it, but ever since, I regretted my choice to not see "Wicked". In college, my roommate and I would belt out the lyrics in our dorm room, and my desire to see it increased over time.

While my husband was in law school, he surprised me one Mother's Day! He had bought tickets to go see "Wicked", but he had also arranged (unbeknownst to me) to have my mom-who lived 8 hours away- come watch our kids while we went. The time, effort, and thoughtfulness he put into that gift meant so much to me. Then, when we sat in the theater, and the opening notes played, it was completely magical for me. I didn't bring home any little trinkets, but the memories were what made this gift so perfect for me. And, in case you're wondering, "Wicked" was amazing!

Disclosure: I received a beautiful arrangement from FTD to help remind me that it's ok to Gift Differently and not get so caught up in things that don't matter.