Drew Barrymore Says She Gave Up Giving Her Kids Christmas Presents, What She Does Instead May Surprise You
Drew Barrymore’s children won’t spend Christmas Eve or Christmas morning opening piles of gifts.
The actress and talk show host has created a different tradition for her girls, Olive, 10, and Frankie, 8, whom she shares with ex-husband Will Kopelman.
According to Fox News, the host of the “Drew Barrymore Show” would rather invest money on travel than on materialistic gifts.
“‘I always take them on a trip every Christmas. I don’t get them presents, which I think at their ages they don’t love, but I say, ‘I think we’ll remember the place… the photos… the experience and that’s what I want to give you,’ she explained during an interview with Entertainment Tonight.”
The former child star of E.T. isn’t anti-gifts. Her children receive presents throughout the year.
Barrymore told Entertainment Tonight about a year when the they couldn’t travel due to the pandemic, recalling the one Christmas she did give gifts to her kids, Barrymore said, ‘I’m fine to skip this. This sucks.'”
“Especially because, with her trip-as-a-gift plan, Frankie and Olive ‘don’t complain about not liking what they get.'”
She’s very happy with this gift-giving plan for now but she’s realistic about the idea that holiday traditions change as families grow and others are added.
The star, who’s been vocal about having a difficult childhood herself and has just begun dating again, acknowledges that “life can change dramatically” and with it, so do traditions.
“I like looking at the holidays through a comedic, realistic lens of, we’re gonna have a lot of different holiday stories. What one do you want to keep going and build as a tradition? Rather than, ‘This is my tradition and I’m stuck in it.'”
Other parents opt out of the tradition of giving their children gifts at Christmas in favor of experiences like travel, serving others by bringing gifts to families suffering hardship or volunteering at shelters.
Some honor the holiday by giving to global organizations that provide gifts in hard-hit areas overseas.
Parents may involve their children in determining where the family should give charitable donations for Christmas and then enjoy a family day of worship, food, games, and faith-based movies.
If your family is looking for alternatives to gifts beneath the tree, you’re not alone.
There are many ways to celebrate Jesus. You can find one that’s ideal for you and your children.
