Holidays. The very mention of that word these days makes me somewhat cringe. After being married and having kids, the holidays just aren’t what they used to be. Tons of get togethers, sharing our time, who gets who on what day and when, and it makes me tired just thinking about it! Plus, add in all the beautiful things on Pinterest that I could be doing to make my home a Winter Wonderland, and I am already waving the white flag. BUT– it doesn’t have to be dreadful– here are my three tips for surviving the holidays.
Be Open To New Traditions. Growing up, we had the same traditions every year– Christmas was celebrated on Christmas Eve, we ate the same thing every year, and on Christmas Day, we spent most of the day in our pajamas snacking on leftover Christmas candy. When Brandon and I were dating and I was included in his family, that shifted some things, and now that we have our own family and little ones, we realize it is important to start our own traditions. Being open to new ones doesn’t mean that the old ones disappear, it just means that we have to be more flexible and creative! One of my favorite newer traditions is getting Christmas pajamas for the kids to wear Christmas Eve night! It’s something small, but I hope it is a tradition that they will grow to love as much as I do!
Make Time to Savor The Moment. With all of the hustle and bustle of the season, it is hard to just relax and enjoy it. It is crucial to carve out that time! For us, our December 15th anniversary is usually that time. We try to go out at least for dinner, and just BE together and not be rushed. It’s a fun time of the year for us, since we started dating around Christmas time and then had a Christmas wedding! Even just getting out to go see Christmas lights with the kids can be a fun way to slow down and enjoy the season. Another suggestion? Taking time to read the Christmas story at LEAST once. Let’s not forget the real reason for the season!
Realize that You can’t Be Everywhere at Once. Christmas parties, holiday gatherings and other events outside of family ones are prevalent this time of year, but don’t think that you have to go to every event on your calendar! Kids can be easily overwhelmed with too many events, so try to keep them AND yourselves from running ragged. Set realistic expectations so you won’t be disappointed when your plan falls through. If we adjust our expectations, we can savor those moments that DO go as planned, and those make the best memories.
It may not be a perfect holiday–even the best laid plans can go awry–, but it should be memorable!
linking up with Jill Savage today as a Hearts for Home Blogger!
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