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It’s holiday time! While that brings out a smile, dancing to holiday music in the store and dreams of eggnog by the fireplace…it also brings a hint of dread. Can you survive all the extra festivities on top of everything you do the rest of the year? More projects, more parties, more tired children bundled into the car at the end of the night. While the season is full of love and merriment, memories and joy – it can also wear a mom down. Don’t get trapped in the flurry of activity this year. You CAN do this and come out smiling at the end.
Here are 4 Ways I Battle the Holiday Bustle with my family.
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It’s Okay To Say “I Can’t”
I get so excited this time of year. I want to make all the desserts! Put up all the decorations! Go to all the parties! I want it all. Then, once it starts rolling, I think…this is kind of hard.Sit down with your family and decide which events, activities etc are at the top of your list this holiday season. Two parties on the same night? Pick one. Will anyone really suffer if you only make two desserts instead of four? No. Decide on a plan of action and a schedule so you don’t suddenly find yourself with too much to do and not enough time to do it.
- Find a Job For Everyone
You don’t have to do everything on your own. Try writing up a ‘Holiday Task List’ for the family. Dad can decorate the tree while you make a gingerbread house with the kids (he really can). The kids can help wrap presents (that extra creative touch of a Superman sticker on Aunt Lisa’s gift bag will be endearing to her). You can even try swapping play dates with friends so that you can each take turns getting your shopping done. - Don’t Expect Perfection
In our minds we have a picture perfect holiday. The children are tidy angels, your Christmas party cake looks just like it did on Pinterest, and your tree looks like it belongs in Macy’s. You’re going to spend each night curled by the fire with carols playing and the children quietly writing letters to Santa. Yeah…. admit right now that it might not happen. And that’s okay. So what if you had to skip the handmade place settings because you didn’t have time to get to the craft store a third time. The food is good, the kids are smiling and even though you crashed in your bed at 8:30 without a single sip of eggnog – the day was still awesome. - Set The Tone For Your Kids
It’s easy to get caught up in the stress. Cookies to make, parties to attend, holiday play costumes, gifts to wrap and more. Before you know it, you’re frazzled, tired and ready to throw in the towel. If your children see you lose your cool – they’ll follow along. If you notice your little ones getting a bit droopy or grumpy – take a deep breath, smile and liven things up. Show them if Mommy can have fun, they can too. You’re all in this together and there’s no reason you can’t cheer each other up on those chaotic days!
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I am the queen of delegating LOL. I am so good at it, I can usually sit back and watch everyone else do everything ;)
These are all great suggestions. I know that we are always really busy around the holidays. I try to make sure I assign everyone tasks so I don’t have to do it all.
Setting a job for everyone is a great idea. You don’t want to get stuck doing everything alone, stressing yourself out, and not enjoying the holidays.
Very good advice. So important not to over do and not enjoy the fesyivities.
I always make sure I have help around the holidays. You just can’t do it all by yourself. It’s also a family bonding experience for everyone to help.
Cant agree more there is so much going on this time of year. I like the list you created.
I love this! I will for sure being doing all of the above come Christmas time! Such great advice!
One thing I’ve learned over the years is to not schedule too much over the holidays. It can become unbearable!
I completely agree with #3. I gave up on perfection a while back and I’m so much happier now.
The tip to set the tone for the kids is my fave. My grandmother always made sure holidays were fun, and I cherish those years. Now I do the exact same for my kids too, and I hope they’ll remember their childhood holidays as fondly as I do mine. :)