Before I make my request, I’d like to make it abundantly clear that I consider myself immensely blessed. I thank God for my wife, my children, my home, and our health. I am also grateful that my children are growing up near their grandparents and extended family.

I also want to share regarding our circumstances to set the context for my request: My wife and I both work outside the home full-time, but do our best to make time to spend with our children. We have both chosen to prioritize our family over our careers. We have never regretted that decision. We are blessed with steady employment and we are grateful to be able to provide for our family.

Our home is of modest size for a family of four and our schedules are packed during the school year, but we do our best to manage. We’ve been working together to clean and organize our home and, while there are frequent interruptions and there remains much to do, we’ve made considerable progress in recent weeks.

Today, we counted that the children own at least one hundred and seventy-five (175) plushes and fifteen (15) baby dolls. As two of the youngest members of a large family, they receive many, many gifts each holiday season. While we are grateful for the generosity of family, the limitations of space and time have prompted me to write out this request (which I’ve had in mind for at least a few years now) before most people start their Christmas shopping:

If you plan to buy gifts for our children, please consider buying something that is not a plush, a doll, large, or includes more than 10 pieces. I understand this limits options, but as a father of two young children, a full-time employee, and a husband who still enjoys the occasional date night with my wife, I ask that you consider a small gift that is not a plush or a doll.

I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving, a merry Christmas, and a happy new year!