When you’re an adult, the time between September and December seems to fly by at warp speed.

As a teenager, you might also have started to notice that time seems to be speeding up. Think about the last few months. You started your new school year in September, a few page turns in your calendar and you are suddenly thinking about the end of the year.

Your December to-do list is filled with tests and final projects. Let’s not even start talking about schedules, plans, and resolutions for a new year! Let’s just pause to think about the present, and PRESENTS.

When you are in school, you get a winter break. If you are working a part-time job, you already know that most places of business don't give the same type of winter break as your school. Therefore, your parents and other adult family members are not only working, but they are also trying to plan holiday celebrations around their schedules. This is where your present of time can be gifted.

You can offer to do more chores, run more errands, and offer to babysit. Let's start with that short list and think about how you can make those simple things into a perfect present.

Don't wait to be asked to do chores that are not already on your list. Do them without being asked, and ask what else you can help with around the house.

If you can drive, offer to do errands. Don't wait until you need to run an errand, or want to borrow the car. Run errands that will help someone else. It's also a great time to take your siblings out of the house for a bit as well.

Let's talk about your siblings a little more. Offer to babysit. Your parents will need time to shop, wrap, or maybe even attend work parties, or get together with their friends. Don't simply make these babysitting hours a time where you watch TV or play a video game while your younger siblings do something else. Give them some of your personal time as well. Do what they want to do, make a group decision on movies to watch and any type of food or snacks you wish to eat.

Let's not stop yet! Offer to babysit for your cousins, or even a neighbor who has small children.

And yes, I have another idea for you. What about neighbors, especially senior neighbors who are alone, or their children are away? You can offer them a plate of warm cookies and . . . your time and interest in their lives.

I promise you that older adults love to talk to young people. They will listen to your ideas, adventures, and hopes. In return, you can listen to their ideas, past adventures and stories.

I know it's your holiday break and you would like to make time for your friends and your activities. You will have time for those get togethers, as you should. However, you could also fit in a few more by planning with your friends to babysit your respective siblings together. Visit elderly neighbors together, and maybe even team up on family chores.

Giving your time to others is truly the perfect present. It helps to slow things down a bit, stabilize the stress, and show that you do care, and that you are considerate. Your maturity shines through by showing you understand and appreciate that this is a time for family and friends.

Stop by the Teen Site forum and tell me who you presented with the perfect present of time.