I had a chat to my almost 3 and 5 year olds tonight about their upcoming birthday celebrations, and floated an idea with them; that this year instead of getting lots of presents, they should give one amazing present to a sick kid via Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Incredibly, after some minor negotiation, which involved one Barbie, it was a done deal.

We will still have the fairy-bread, play pass-the-parcel, host the crazy-uncle-nathan-clown-tricks and eat lots of cake, however, this year there will be no presents. That is no presents for my kids, instead we will attempt to grant one wish to a sick kid via Make a Wish Foundation.

Not sure how it is going to go, but I am excited.

I consider myself to have had a blessed childhood. I had about 10 toys (including one Barbie) which were loved and played with almost til they fell apart. However in this crazy world, my 3 and 5 year old seem to have an abundance of toys, to the point that they don’t value them – also we have a very small house!

I am hoping this will teach my kids a thing or two about the world, and how lucky they really are.

I spoke to Bebe, the Queensland State Manager of Make a Wish, and she told me that there are currently 500+ outstanding wishes in Queensland alone, and that they are very grateful for any support. Wishes just like four-year-old Katie who’s wish was to swim with the dolphins and ride on a rollercoaster.

So have a think about it, do you really need more “stuff” next birthday? Or could you give the most beautiful gift to a sick child instead?

Watch my kids’ Make-a-Wish Birthday clip:
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSo64TgV2RE