3 minute read
PARENTING
HOW TO REDUCE THE YULETIDE MADNESS
WRITTEN BY LAUREN DREHER
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What a whirlwind! Does this describe how you feel after the holiday season comes and goes? So much happens in such a short period of time that it can be overwhelming. This doesn’t mean you don’t love spreading holiday cheer, but the seemingly nonstop hustle and bustle can be a lot. Whether you are the person who can’t get enough of the holidays or the one who doesn’t mind when they’re over, here are some tips to minimize the Yuletide madness.
THE DIY
Christmas season seems to be extra packed with DIY crafting and decorations, which is great. But, of course, we like all of it to look amazing. A few ideas to take the pressure off: 1. Enjoy the time making it, even if the finished product doesn’t look perfect. 2. If you have a long list of projects, choose some of the projects but not all of them. Sometimes we plan to do more than we can handle. 3. If you’re planning activities to do with others, make sure you pick activities they enjoy as well.
TREATS
Baked goods and gifts tend to come in abundance, whether they’re from family, friends, neighbors, holiday parties, or maybe from you! 1. Set a date with some family or
friends to make goodies. Each person chooses one or two things to make and share. This way, everyone gets a lot to take with them, and it’s not up to you to do it all. 2. Don’t feel obligated to eat everything. It’s impossible to satisfy every preference. Be appreciative and move on.
EVENTS
There are plenty of gatherings of all types. It can be stressful trying to go to all of them. 1. It’s okay to skip some of them. Making it to everything can use up all of our time and stress us out. As needed, consider the invitation and decide if it’s something you want to go to. If not, it is okay to politely
decline without giving an explanation. 2. Decide as a family what you want to do and where you want to go. Maybe this is a year to start some of your own holiday traditions. 3. Advice from licensed marriage and family therapist Nicole Schwartz:
THE HOLIDAY DAY
This is usually the kicker. We want to spend all the time we can with our family. The bigger the family, the harder it is to coordinate days and times with everyone. One thing I’ve learned: as families grow and change, so do traditions. 1. Decide with your family what is right for you. If you want to have everyone
wake up in their own beds instead of being out of town, do it. Others will adjust. 2. Get on a rotating schedule for being in town or out of town. You can even switch houses each year so the responsibility falls on someone different each time. 3. Have everyone participate in bringing a food item, whether it’s homemade or not.
GIFT-GIVING
We have so many people to buy gifts for: friends, family, coworkers, teachers, kids … and the list continues. 1. For the people who are picky or hard to buy for, consider an experience.
Sometimes giving them our time is more valuable than another “thing.” 2. Think about memberships. What types of places do they like to go to
but don’t want to pay for? 3. Help someone pay for a trip. You could also get them some fun things to use on a trip they would never buy for themself. 4. Help with everyday expenses like bills or groceries.
HANDLING GIFT LET-DOWN
When all is over, what do you do with the overwhelm? Here are some more tips from Nicole Schwartz One-in/one-out rule: If you are overwhelmed by the amount of toys in your home, begin a one-in/one-out rule. Encourage your children to give away one toy, book, video game, or clothing item for each gift they receive. This can even be done prior to Christmas.
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