{"id":4688,"date":"2012-06-28T15:38:13","date_gmt":"2012-06-28T13:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents-blog\/?p=4688"},"modified":"2022-06-21T09:56:55","modified_gmt":"2022-06-21T07:56:55","slug":"surviving-holiday-shopping-in-one-easy-step-the-wishlist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/parenting\/being-present\/surviving-holiday-shopping-in-one-easy-step-the-wishlist\/","title":{"rendered":"Surviving holiday shopping in one easy step- the wishlist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Winter holidays are here, which for some of us means lazy mornings in bed, hot chocolate with movies, and\u2026 shopping with the kids. Now, if you\u2019re anything like me, you\u2019ll usually attempt to do any form of shopping while the little ones are safely at school, far from the checkout aisle at Woolies or the colourful insides of ToysRUs. What parent doesn\u2019t dread that constant \u201cI want\u2026 I want\u2026 I want\u2026\u201d. We\u2019ve all been there and the temptation to become Mr. or Mrs. No-Sayer is all too strong.<\/span><\/p>\n

The trouble is that it is natural to have desires, so how do we deal with this without squashing our kids\u2019 ability to dream and to create their realities as they would like them to be, AND without turning them into little spoiled brats by buying them anything they want?!<\/p>\n

The secret lies in the wishlist. Invest in the sacred bit of magic called the pocket notebook. Trust me, once you discover its secrets you will never again attempt another shopping trip without it. When \u201cI want\u201d rears it\u2019s ugly little head you can say, in a very understanding voice: \u201cI know\u2026 isn\u2019t it a wonderful x, y or z, I totally get why you would want that, so let\u2019s add it to your wishlist\u201d. And out comes the magical notebook, the item is added, and believe it or not\u2026 there is no whining to follow.<\/p>\n

For once in your life you get to experience being the yes-sayer, your child feels that their desires are being heard and acknowledged and shopping trips don\u2019t turn into temper tantrums.<\/p>\n

It is worth occasionally buying them things that are on their wishlists \u2013 for birthdays or Christmas \u2013 so that they can see their desires manifesting, but trust me, they won\u2019t remember everything on the list.<\/p>\n

The wishlist simply shows kids that you respect them and their desires; that you take them seriously and are not always trying to brush them off. They feel that they are worthy of your time, and that their desires are important enough to write down.<\/p>\n

If there is some behavior that is driving you nuts in your child, remember that a wise man (otherwise known as Carl Jung) once said, \u201cIf there is anything that we wish to change in the child, we should first examine it and see whether it is not something that could better be changed in ourselves\u201d.\u00a0 A small change in adult behavior can go a long way. Try the wishlist and prove me, and Dr. Jung, right!<\/p>\n

Enjoy a tantrum-free holiday and be the change you want to see in your kids.<\/p>\n

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