to have tear in my eye?

Lovely, true Christmas spirit x

I know it's so sad Ellen, we have our gd she has lived with us since she was 6 but you know what those little boys will have a loving home just like we have given our gd and that is the most important thing.

Eirel sounds like they could all do with a friend, grandma included,

Happy Christmas

Tears here too. We had a neighbour with five young children, three different dads apparently, and she seemed like a young woman defeated by life when she moved in. We didn't see her more than about three times a week. The children were lovely; one little girl used to run to hug me, and they always wanted to talk for a while. We gave a box of biscuits as just a small gesture at Christmas, and when we moved I put some money in an envelope and asked her to treat the children to a game, or perhaps the cinema, and said we had liked living next door and watching them grow up. I later had a card saying that we were 'the kindest people she had ever met'. That made me weep; a box of biscuits, a few words here and there and an acknowledgement that she was doing her best, and that was the most kindness she had ever had. I have never forgotten her, or her scruffy but happy little family, and I hope they found a lot more kindness as life went on.

My children are now in their forties - but I still have a tiny soft toy which an elderly neighbour gave my first born. We did'nt have much then. Later in the year she gave me a beautiful tiny hand knitted cardigan. We asked her to be godmother and remained good friends until her demise.

F77ms....that did make me cry. I think you feel the spirit of Christmas more acutely when you are struggling, and you receive a kind gesture. What your mother did for her neighbour is priceless...

This is what Christmas is all about, made me a bit tearful but also inspired me for the future

Oh that did bring a tear to my eye. I buy a book each for the children next door ( not expensive) I wrap them up and give them to their mum on Christmas Eve and say that the Christmas Eve elves left it. I feel it occupies them the night before Christmas.

Sorry I meant elrel

elrel I just realised, I meant to comment at the start that your OP is lovely, it reminded me what Christmas is all about.

Ethel that is so lovely .

My Mum befriended a Pakistani family who lived a few doors away . She felt sorry for them because none of the other neighbours were happy about them moving in . The Mum one day asked my Mum if she would help the eldest boy with his homework on Shakespeare because he was struggling to understand it . It became a regular thing and the boy improved no end . My Mum ended up helping all the children with school work and became good friends with Naz (the Mum) . When Mum died Naz was the first person to come to see me all dressed in white as a sign of respect laden with food she had made for me . The eldest 2 children ( 1 boy one girl) ended up going to university and Naz said it was down to my Mum encouraging and helping them . It still brings a to my eye when I think about people just doing little things which have such a big impact on peoples lives .

So lovely, true Christmas spirit

No you're not being unreasonable it made me cry .... lovely story I just sent a little autistic boy a present that he wasn't expecting and I m told he's running around in great excitment This is what it's all about...

And maybe a bunch of flowers for the grandma?

I'm teary reading this, we all appreciate good neighbours, and all the more so if times are tough and money is scarce. It's so easy to become too self absorbed to notice those around us, but lovely to know that some people not only notice but then go on to act kindly. The true Christmas Spirit is alive and well

Hope it's the beginning of a great friendship with that little family. Still time to get something more for the kids before Xmas, even if a box of sweets.

Your story about the card is heartwarming, bless those little ones.

Eiral, I would say don't buy cheap, buy something small and age appropriate, inexpensive but not cheap .

elrel We have just bought selection boxes from B&M at 99p each for the children at Sunday School about 5/6 wrapped chocs for the little ones to enjoy.

Elrel you can buy selection boxes very cheaply now (my own DC were always really pleased to get one from an old great Aunt.)You could wrap them and go round with them.

These are proper 'Christmas'stories❤

lovely stories

Teary eyed here gn

Elrel I would have been bowled over too, so am not surprised you felt tearful. You still have time to plan something small but thoughtful for Christmas. I don't suppose that there is much spare cash around when there are growing boys with big appetites around and I expect that their Grandmother won't be spending much on treats for herself either.
It is when you have the least that you are given the gift of appreciation. We all take so much for granted nowadays because, on the whole, we have so much.

GN that's so lovely