Our daughter recently started a job with a finance company. After five years in college she had finally decided on a major and completed her degree. She and a friend moved into a two bedroom apartment. They are both just starting out, but they want to be independent in purchasing things for their apartment. My daughter feels that we supported her enough getting her through the five years of college.

The girls have gone to second hand stores and discount stores to decorate their apartment. It looks nice and they will buy new pieces once they are able to afford them. My daughter asked us over for dinner early in December. She said they had been decorating for Christmas and they wanted us to see the apartment. My daughter has always loved Christmas as much as I do. She and I would spend hours decorating for Christmas when she was still living at home. My husband commented on our way over to her apartment that he hoped she did not spend a lot of money on decorating for Christmas because her car needed replacing very soon.

Who doesn’t love the jolly old man dressed in red with his big belly and snowy white beard.  The holidays will find Santa Claus everywhere.  At the mall, private parties, decorating a lawn or landing on a roof, but do you know where he originated?

The original Santa Claus was St. Nicholas.  He is the patron saint of sailors, Sicily, Greece and Russia, and of course children.  St. Nicholas was born in Turkey in the fourth century and became widely known for his generosity and devoting his life to Christianity.  The Romans imprisoned and tortured him for his beliefs.  When Constantine became emperor of Rome, he released Nicholas.  St. Nicholas went on giving presents to the poor and especially to the children, explaining Christmas to children as he passed them out.

Adolescents can be difficult in nearly every aspect of life. Even events that are typically joyful like the holiday season can cause a parent stress. Sometimes you really don’t know what to purchase for your own teen. Finding a Christmas gift for a teenager can actually be fun if you take a certain approach. Most parents still picture their teen as a child and they seem to reflect this perception in the presents they choose. Keep in mind that an adolescent is tottering on the verge of total independence, as I am sure that you are told on a regular basis.

However, the teen is also very dependant on family for financial and emotional support. A Christmas gift for a teenager should merge the two states in a way that shows you recognize and respect your teen’s maturity while still communicating a nurturing side. Bear with me. It’s easier than you think.