Welcome back to On the Ground Parenting for Episode 19! Hosts Sandy, Sam, and Kelly conclude their two-part discussion on navigating the stress, expense, and commercialism of the holiday season. The conversation shifts from what traditions to let go of, to what truly brings meaning and value to the family.The hosts explore the idea that the best gifts are not expensive, but those that make the recipient feel seen, heard, and valued. They share creative, budget-friendly ideas that prioritize connection and utility over cost:

• The Gift of Time: Kelly is planning a few evenings with her nieces and nephews to help them make gifts for their parents.
• Secondhand and Practical: Sam shares how her family makes it a game to find useful gifts that truly reflect the recipient's interests. She notes her son was thrilled with his new toothbrush.
• Experiences and Humor: Sandy recounts the funny family memory of her sisters hanging up leotards instead of stockings , while Kelly shares a story about gifting a humorous, DIY Mountain Equipment Co-op membership kit.

The hosts encourage listeners to look to their community for resources like public library activities or food banks to facilitate giving and connection. They emphasize that the deepest holiday value lies in paying attention to one another and building memories, not in the money spent.If you want to sponsor or support the show, or ask a question of our hosts, visit the Central Hub at linktr.ee/onthegroundparentingOn the Ground Parenting is produced, engineered, and published by Red Juice Studio.  https://redjuicestudio.comparentingpodcasts, parenting, familyeducation, parentingonpurpose, podcast, parentingtips, dailyparenting, attachmentparenting, parenting101, parentinglife, gentleparenting, parentingwin, positiveparenting, consciousparenting, honestparenting, naturalparenting, parentinggoals, mindfulparenting, infoparenting, parentingdoneright, parents, parenthood, parentinghacks, parentstraining, crunchy, onthegroundparenting, parentinghacks, muskoka, momlife, momlifeisthebestlife, parentingpodcast, parentingpodcasts, christmas, thanksgiving, holidays with kids, holiday parenting advice, christmas 2025, thanksgiving 2025, thanksgiving week

Connect with Us! If you enjoyed this episode and want to sponsor or support the show, or even ask a question of our hosts, visit the Central Hub at linktr.ee/onthegroundparenting

On the Ground Parenting is produced, engineered, and published by Red Juice Studio. To learn more, visit redjuicestudio.com