As
we enter into December, we move into high gear for another holiday
season, and all that comes along with it: the joy, the stress, the
commercialism, the exhaustion, the magic, the rush… As the month
whizzes along, we tend to get swept away with the tide, and then
heave a giant sigh of relief as it passes.
Family
traditions are what the most cherished childhood memories are made
of. Take the time to sit down with your beloved to make a calendar of
the holiday activities dearest to your family’s heart. Discuss your
priorities so that you are able to simplify as much as possible, the
days ahead.
we enter into December, we move into high gear for another holiday
season, and all that comes along with it: the joy, the stress, the
commercialism, the exhaustion, the magic, the rush… As the month
whizzes along, we tend to get swept away with the tide, and then
heave a giant sigh of relief as it passes.
Family
traditions are what the most cherished childhood memories are made
of. Take the time to sit down with your beloved to make a calendar of
the holiday activities dearest to your family’s heart. Discuss your
priorities so that you are able to simplify as much as possible, the
days ahead.
Create
two lists: Things you think
you have to do, and things you want to do. The idea of this exercise
is to take some of the pressure off. For
example, do you truly hate the office Christmas party? If so, why
take the time from your family to put yourself through that? Are
you sending cards because you want to, or do you feel obligated to?
Can it wait until the beginning of the year, or even Valentines Day?
I used to start at the beginning of my address book one year and at
the end the next.
two lists: Things you think
you have to do, and things you want to do. The idea of this exercise
is to take some of the pressure off. For
example, do you truly hate the office Christmas party? If so, why
take the time from your family to put yourself through that? Are
you sending cards because you want to, or do you feel obligated to?
Can it wait until the beginning of the year, or even Valentines Day?
I used to start at the beginning of my address book one year and at
the end the next.
By
whittling down your to do list, you allow more time for the things
that are meaningful to you and yours. The following ideas are simple,
fun, and inexpensive.
whittling down your to do list, you allow more time for the things
that are meaningful to you and yours. The following ideas are simple,
fun, and inexpensive.
-
Make
Christmas cookies. Don’t have time? Use the ready made cookie dough
found in the dairy case. -
Make
a gingerbread house. Graham crackers and canned frosting make an
easy shortcut!
-
Help
your child make cranberry relish, fudge, or other gifts from the
kitchen. -
Rather
than hosting an elaborate party, gather a group of friends to go
Christmas caroling and invite them in for cookies and wassail-a
traditional hot spiced fruit punch. -
Go
to a tree farm or ask a friend with land for permission to have a
winter woodland adventure, perhaps even to cut your own tree.
-
Start
a collection of ornaments for each child, letting him/her pick out
or make a new one each year. This creates a store of wonderful
memories to be taken into their adult lives. -
Take
an “ooh and aahh ride” to check out the Christmas light displays
around the village.
-
Pick
out a few select holiday videos and avoid those commercials!
-
Make
a collage with old holiday greeting cards; or weave place mats with
construction paper, decorate with stickers, and cover with clear
contact paper.
-
Make
your own wrapping paper using post consumer newsprint or fabric, and
gift tags using old greeting cards.
-
Make
something special for your child. Keep it simple: a drawstring bag,
a travel pillow, a painted tee shirt, a bird house, a card… Gifts
made by you especially for them are the ones they remember.
Childrenenjoy the opportunity to get creative, and love making special
presents for those most dear to them. When kids have made gifts that
they feel excited about, they experience on a heartfelt level that it
is more blessed to give than to receive.
If
you can bring yourself to leave the TV off, not only will you have
created more time for yourselves, you will cut down on the whining
for this or that without the constant exposure to commercials.
Even
if you do not participate in the religious aspect of the Holiday,
share with your child the Story of Christmas. It is a basic element
in the culture of our society. Coincidental with the Christmas
holiday season is the Jewish celebration of Chanukah, or Hanukkah, as
well as Ramadan, an Islamic celebration. There are many good stories
and books about these important holidays. Don’t forget the valuable
resource we have in the Public Library.
When
things start becoming too frantic in your house, take a little break
for a read with your children. The investment of your time will pay
off and they will return the time you need to complete your task!
Above
all, keep in mind that Time is the greatest gift you can give your
family.
To
this day, our grown sons insist upon watching A Charlie Brown
Christmas and the old Grinch cartoon once they have returned home for
the holidays. As we decorate the tree, they pick out the ornaments
they have each received over the years, and reminisce about growing
up together. We still gather in the kitchen to make my great
grandmother’s cookies, and drink wassail with childhood friends.
Each
Christmas morning they sit cramped in the stairwell, until we are all
ready and the annual photo shoot documents their anticipation- not of
what they will receive, but reaction to gifts they have chosen for
each other. And in my mind, there is a time lapse vision of my
childhood, and those of my parents and grandparents, as well as
future generations, for I’m certain that the boys will take these
traditions into their new lives.
Here’s
wishing you and yours a blessed Holiday Season filled with love and
warm memories.- RDW
(11-19-09)