As a child, my mother taught me how to wrap gifts really well. We're talking crisp corners and no-show tape kind of gift wrapping skills. Little did she know, I'd take these learnings and use them to my advantage during Christmas.

As presents for me and my 6 siblings would begin to appear underneath the tree, I'd sneak downstairs during the night and scan the pile for my name, taking one gift at a time into the powder room with me, just to have a tiny peek. Carefully, ever-so-delicately peeling corners away, as to not crumble a freshly pressed crease, I'd unwrap one end of a box just enough to see what was inside.

How mischevious! But also, how excited I must have been to go to great lengths. Some years, I couldn't see what was inside so to be genuinely surprised during Noche Buena feel like nice memories. Sometimes I got exactly what I pleaded for, and some years I didn't. These days, I'm happy to be bumming around the house with family and friends, and appreciate all the brand new packs of trousers socks.

What makes a good gift, great?

I feel like a good gift is knowing what you might like, based off of what I know about you and your interests. And a great gift? A great gift to me is thoughtful, like really thoughtful. Possibly the thing I mentioned I wanted to learn more about, or a book I've been meaning to read but haven't gotten a chance to buy yet. Maybe it's an inside-joke kind of gift, where between us two, only we would know what it meant. Something that maybe when I see it, use it, or wear it, I think of you each time. Doesn't have to be romantic, but there is a little bit of magic in the thought of gifting, isn't there?

And when it comes to kids, I think about what I might've looked for, or better yet, what I might've needed to feel. The more and more we host workshops and events for families and children, the more I think about the importance of being fully present with them. Listening to their childhood woes, their interests, or what kind of problems they've been trying to solve in their heads.

It reminds me that age simply doesn't matter when it comes to feeling seen and cared for - listened to - at that. Imagine what it might feel like, as a kid, for somebody to really get you. Feels good, doesn't it?

Our Holiday Gift Guide for Kids is all about intentional gift giving. Rather than focusing on the hottest/trendiest toys and tiers of product price points, we sat and thought about some of the different kids we've met and the ones we are helping raise. Thinking about their different personalities, interests, curiosities, and lifestyles, we curated a light list of independent businesses and creatives to support this Holiday season and beyond.

Let's make this one special.