Adult Children - New Holiday Tradition

[Anonymous]

At our family Thanksgiving, DH and I started a new tradition with our family.

Backstory, we are late 50’s with a comfortable HHI and adult children working at various income levels.

DH and I purchased $2000 in gift cards in various denominations for restaurants, box stores, and grocery stores.

During Thanksgiving we asked each child (3) what they were thankful for. Seeing they were all thankful for having their basic needs covered, we asked that they “pay it forward” to those less fortunate. They were given an envelope with ($400) various gift cards to “pay it forward” to others in need. DH and I had gift cards to share too!

At Christmas dinner we shared stories of people that we gave our gifts to. Our new holiday season tradition was a great success.

Son #1 age 26 spoke about the feelings he felt thanking people with a gift card and paid for many meals for those behind him in drive thru’s

Son #2 age 24 mentioned a family in need and he gave them various restaurant gift cards to give them variety and treats for their children.

Daughter age 21 shared her gift cards with homeless people at a shelter she volunteered at.

DH shared his gift cards with the bus and train crews on routes he rides daily, with a thank you! He enjoys his commute now.

And I shared my cards with random people I encountered “asking them to pay it forward”, some people engaged me in conversation with a “why me?” or “what a great idea!”

What used to be months of hearing what our kids wanted for Christmas transformed into hearing how they enjoyed giving to others.

Everyone received a gift at our family Christmas. The kids asked if we’re going to do it again next year.

If any of you were a lucky recipient of a random gift card or a “free meal” in a drive thru, that may have been my family “paying it forward”.

We’ll be back at it again in 2026!!

[Anonymous]

Wow I hope you didn’t hurt yourself patting yourself on the back there.

[Anonymous]

Millions of people do random acts of kindness every day and don’t run to brag about on DCUM. Just saying…

[Anonymous]

This is wonderful because you blessed other people AND you created something meaningful for your family to connect over. I also love the thread you created between Thanksgiving and Christmas!

This is the true spirit of Christmas, thank you for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Millions of people do random acts of kindness every day and don’t run to brag about on DCUM. Just saying…

+1

[Anonymous]

So you gave money to people who need it? Is this a new concept?

[Anonymous]

This is nice OP! Posters are so jaded on this site.

[Anonymous]

Nice idea. Next year, I'd give everyone $400 cash and see how they choose to share it via cash or gift cards or whatever. Let them decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is wonderful because you blessed other people AND you created something meaningful for your family to connect over. I also love the thread you created between Thanksgiving and Christmas!

This is the true spirit of Christmas, thank you for sharing.

Amen! This is fabulous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow I hope you didn’t hurt yourself patting yourself on the back there.

Amen!

[Anonymous]

Performative acts of goodness are only effective if you get attention for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Performative acts of goodness are only effective if you get attention for them.

What I see are parents who acknowledge their comfort and are helping their young adults to learn giving. I wish more people would encourage and model it.

I bet few of the people making snide comments on here are active volunteers and intentional donors themselves.

[Anonymous]

What position are you in that you believe you have the right to tell another adult to "pay it forward"?

If you want to do a good deed, just do it. Giving someone a job assignment is NOT a good deed. Assuming you are not their mother, their supervisor, or their boss, you are not in the place to be telling anyone what to do. Mind your own business.

If you want to give, give freely without a catch. If you want there to be a catch, find organizations that screen applicants.

[Anonymous]

I did that when my kids were young, in smaller denominations. They could choose to give the cards to someone who’d done a nice thing or looked in need or stressed.
I just hope you are not ignoring one of your kids may need that money for themselves to survive. That would be tone deaf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What position are you in that you believe you have the right to tell another adult to "pay it forward"?

If you want to do a good deed, just do it. Giving someone a job assignment is NOT a good deed. Assuming you are not their mother, their supervisor, or their boss, you are not in the place to be telling anyone what to do. Mind your own business.

If you want to give, give freely without a catch. If you want there to be a catch, find organizations that screen applicants.

Did you read the post at all?

This is literally their MOTHER. The mother of these young adults gave them gift cards and told them to pass it on.

Again, since reading comprehension is hard, the OP is the MOTHER in this story and she gave HER OWN children these gift cards.

Hope that helps