Being a mom doesn’t come with any specific set of instructions. It’s just a woman who will do anything in her power to help her child no matter what the problem may be. Whether it’s teaching them how to tie their shoes or making that second dinner for them we swore we wouldn’t. We will do whatever it takes to see our children smile. So, when we see they are struggling, you better believe we will step up to the plate and bat for them.
My son is on the spectrum. He struggles with gross motor skills, certain sounds bother him, he’s nonspeaking, and I could go on. Last Christmas while he was opening his presents, I noticed he was struggling. He was having a tough time ripping the paper off of any of his gifts. He also seemed bothered by the sound of the paper tearing. This was a problem. The last thing I want to see is my son in distress, especially over something that is intended to bring him joy.
Changing a holiday tradition to better suit
my son’s needs was needed.
While I constantly work to try to help him improve his skills, Christmas morning is not the time or place. I started thinking outside the box on ways I could possibly help him become more engaged in the fun and not feel frustrated or overloaded. That’s when I discovered Santa Sacks. A giant bag covered in a holiday design that I could fill with all of my son’s presents. This simple yet effective idea will solve ALL of his problems while still keeping it fun.
This subtle substitution would help my son with most of his struggles. Mission accomplished! A victory for moms everywhere!
While basking in my glory I started thinking of some other ways this would help me out:
- Easier clean up: No wrapping paper to collect and throw away makes for a quicker clean up.
- More affordable: I can reuse these sacks every year instead of having to buy all those boxes, bags, name tags, tape, wrapping paper, bows, and ribbons.
- Better for the environment: Who doesn’t want to help the environment and create less trash?
- Time saver: All those hours spent wrapping presents and cleaning up the aftermath can now be spent with my family or on self-care.
Even though all of these changes are positive and helpful, I can’t help but feel a little sad. I LOVE wrapping Christmas presents! I honestly look forward to doing it every year. The thought of not wrapping my son’s gifts stings a bit. But knowing I did the right thing for his needs fills my heart with song.
Whether he’s ripping the paper off of a box or pulling presents out of a bag, seeing my son happy is the only thing I care about. I’m glad I was able to make the proper adjustments to provide him with a smoother and more relaxing Christmas morning. I can’t wait to see him smile and fully emerge in all the fun that comes with a visit from Santa Claus!
