Wealth Is in the Moments

As a kid, I always knew we were rich.
Opening presents on Christmas morning usually took over an hour — partly because Santa went a little overboard, but mostly because Lisa opens presents slower than molasses in January.

Every Easter, we practically got a new spring wardrobe — new shorts and shirts for summer, maybe some outdoor toys, sandals, and a few nice outfits. It always felt like a seasonal upgrade — trading static-filled sweaters for flip-flops, mosquito bites, and the sweet smell of fresh-cut grass.

When school started, we always got new clothes to kick off the year — a few new pairs of pants, several new shirts, maybe a dress or two, new shoes, and basically whatever we wanted. For that brief, back-to-school moment, we were clean, organized, and ready to conquer the world — or at least the first week.

Back then, wealth meant stuff. Piles of gifts, Easter baskets with just enough treats to make us smile, and new clothes for every occasion. I thought the number of boxes under the tree or the size of our baskets somehow measured how loved — and lucky — we were.

But over time, I realized the real wealth wasn’t in what we unwrapped or wore. It was in the way Mom made the magic happen — staying up half the night, fueled by the knowledge that if she didn’t get it done, it wasn’t going to happen. Somehow, she always made it look effortless by morning.

With the realization that wealth is in the moments of life, I’ve worked to create special moments that I hope my kids remember — not for what they got, but for how they felt.

When the kids lived at home, every birthday morning started with a surprise gift waiting on the kitchen table. These days, for our family birthday parties, the birthday kid gets to pick the meal and their favorite dessert. We also go out to eat at a restaurant on the actual birthday with the immediate family — the birthday person always gets to choose the restaurant. I also make a point of trying to be the first person to either message or call them on their special day to wish them a happy one.

At Christmas, when we celebrate at my house, I set the dining room table with the good china and crystal for our special Christmas breakfast. Santa still delivers gifts, each one either wrapped in a unique paper or specially labeled for every child — because some traditions are too good to outgrow.
And instead of filling stockings with random little things, each person now finds a coupon for an experience — something we can do together, like an escape room, axe throwing, or another fun family outing. Those shared adventures have become some of our favorite gifts of all.

I used to think wealth was money. Now I know it’s moments.

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