STROLLING ALONG TO A HANDMADE HOLIDAY
Christmas is in full swing. This weekend is Christmas Stroll, when Santa is ushered in compliments of the Coast Guard, none of whom I am sure are named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer or Vixen. Most people think of the reindeers as male, but guess what? They were equally divided. Dasher, Prancer, Comet and Donner were male, and Dancer, Vixen, Cupid and Blitzen were female. It's nice to know that many years ago, even before Gloria Steinem stood on her first soapbox, Santa was pushing for equality in the workplace.

We all talk about "the true meaning of Christmas," but it is easy to get lost in the multitude of shopping bags and catalogues that decorate this season as much as the tinsel on our trees. Kids take their cues from us, at least when it doesn't involve their personal freedom, so the best gift you can give your children is to help them make homemade gifts for those special people in their lives.

It's always a good idea to back up your own philosophies with a few books. Kids tend to believe that what we say is true if we can prove that someone besides ourselves had the idea first. Also, if you can lead them to the proverbial water (like leading the horse to water, but you can't make him drink), many times kids will get the idea of drinking on their own. All it takes is a little nudge.

A classic that is celebrating its 50th Anniversary is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss. Kids love to revel in the antics of the Grinch, so it is not a big stretch for them to realize along with him that family and friends are the true gifts during the holiday season. The new 50th Anniversary Edition is bright and captivating, and comes with commentary and trivia about the origination of the Grinch, his little dog Max and the ever famous Cindy Lou Who.

Another wonderful book that does not have to be relegated to the Christmas book pile is "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. Silverstein was a longtime Vineyard resident prior to his death in 1999. "The Giving Tree" is about the relationship between a boy and a special apple tree in his yard. The tree gives him a branch to swing on when he is a child, apples to sell as a teen and lumber to build a house as an adult. The message of the book is about the act of giving out of love to another with no thought as to your own needs. It is a story of unconditional love, which is really the basis for the Christmas holiday.

After reading these two books, your child should be ready to make something to give away to those special people in his life. After you have put together some supplies, remove the duct tape that has held your child in the chair while you read the two books. If you remove the duct tape prior to getting prepared, you might never be able to move past this stage.

Homemade gifts don't have to be elaborate. Paperweights are always a good idea for those who spend their days in the office. Your child can gather

medium-size rocks from the beach. Bring them home and wash them well, letting them dry thoroughly. Your child can then paint a design on the rock. Finger paints work well for toddlers and minimize the need to ask for new furniture for Christmas to replace the multi-colored couch that now graces your living room compliments of your little artist.

Another useful gift is a dishcloth decorated with your kid's hand or footprints. For this craft you will need fabric paints, foam paintbrushes, and a solid color dishtowel. Dishtowels made from flour sacks work well for this craft. Now, I know you're probably wondering what planet I'm on to think that flour comes in sacks, but "flour-sack cloth" is an actual type of cloth. This cloth was used for flour sacks, which is why we call it that, but was usurped by the tree barons wanting to sell more paper. Once you used the flour, you were left with a wonderful piece of cloth that could be used for dishtowels, or during the depression as fabric for clothes. Many dishtowels are made from flour-sack cloth because it is very absorbent.

Back to the craft! Use the foam paintbrush to coat your child's palm with paint. You can either use one color, or paint different areas with different colors. Practice a few handprints on a paper plate first to get the hang of it. You can create designs with the handprints, or take a purist approach with two handprints. Your child's creativity is the only boundary!

Giving homemade gifts teaches your children that Christmas is about giving of themselves, not just some item that little children in China have made to accommodate our materialistic society. With the paperweight on their desk or the dish towel hanging from their towel rack, the recipient will be reminded all year long of the joy your child gives them, and the love that is

the true light of the season. I