The reason for the season

Helping my kids to associate Christmas with the spirit of giving rather than gifts is probably the best present I can give them

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It started out as a joke. We were at the supermarket picking up some snacks for a road trip to Malaysia when my daughter asked to buy a $3 tub of caramel popcorn.

"Sure," my husband said. "That will be your Christmas present."

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on December 02, 2018, with the headline The reason for the season. Subscribe