What to Give the Kids for the Holidays

Every year the conundrum repeats. What do we give the kids this year for (pick your holiday) Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa. Once they grow up, our kids are like us. If they need it, they buy it. They don't wait for "Santa" to come across with the goods any more. We wind up racking our brains for something to slip under the tree or end up handing them a check, hoping they really will spend it on something special and not just use it to pay their own holiday bills. Well, this year I have the perfect solution. Give them the gift of time. Time to be together. Time to relax, to play, to have fun, to build happy memories together. Give them a timeshare property. No matter what your children's age or situation, a timeshare can add richness to their lives. People who own timeshares look forward to their vacation time with greater enthusiasm and spend more time vacationing. In your child's hectic, stress-filled, over-programmed life, the gift of quality vacation time will provide a relaxing, rejuvenating and much cherished oasis. If your adult children are single, hard-charging and career-motivated, give them a timeshare that attracts a younger or a well-mixed crowd. Think about what they like or yearn to do in their leisure time and pick a vacation spot that will offer them the opportunity to indulge themselves. They might enjoy the sun and sand of the Caribbean with days spent lazing on the beach, snorkeling or jet skiing and nights spent dancing in hot clubs. If they live to ski or snowboard, a ski resort might be just the ticket. If they work in the high powered concrete jungle, perhaps a week of riding, cycling, swimming and hiking in the fresh air would be rejuvenating. If your children are newly married, you might think of secluded, romantic getaways. Hawaii might beckon or a luxurious villa in Mexico. Maybe they'd like the laid back, quirky lifestyle of Key West or the jazz and oyster bars of New Orleans. Perhaps the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas -- gambling and some dynamite shows -- would be exciting. If your children have started a family, you might give them a timeshare closer to home. As their family grows they may not always have the resources for air travel for the whole crew. Give them a timeshare within a day's drive of their home. The opportunity to return to a loved vacation spot every year gives a family a chance to establish traditions and build memories that last a lifetime. Children (and their parents) look forward to doing the same things year after year. It's those expectations that build continuity in a family's life. If your children are empty nesters, give them a retirement legacy. Give them a timeshare that reaffirms their commitment to each other and the things they enjoy together. Choose a location they have always loved or one that gives them the opportunity to participate in activities they enjoy together. No matter what age your grown children, the gift of a timeshare will be a cherished gift for years to come.