Christmas Chaos to Christmas Calm
How to survive expectations and budgets without losing your mind.
Christmas trees, Santa Clause, cookies, cards, plans and parties. As the holiday music begins to dominate the airwaves, stress can be the Grinch trying to dominate the fun. Instead of wrapping gifts, parents can become wrapped up in the never-ending holiday “to-do’s”. With the excitement of the season it's important to remember that kids can become overwhelmed too. Before you know it, the most wonderful time of the year has turned into the most exhausting time of the year filled with visions of meltdowns for them and for you.
Anxiety is contagious, but so is calm.
There are many ways to find a calmer way of dealing with the holidays, making things more fun for everyone. Claire McCarthy, MD, a primary care pediatrician at Boston Children’s Hospital, and an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, suggests seven ways to prevent and reduce holiday stress for children this season.
Manage your own stress.
As much as possible, keep routines the same.
Manage expectations.
Keep kids active.
Spend some time together.
Build some family holiday rituals, if you don’t have them already.
Choose something to do as a family that helps others.
For a detailed review of the above mentioned suggestions, visit her blog here
GIMME GIMME GIMME!!
In addition to managing stress, parents find themselves overwhelmed by the infamous “I want this and this…” that rings as loud as the Christmas bells. So while the toy industry engages in their digital “MUST HAVE THIS” campaign on your child, there are ways to counterbalance their stampede of ads to find the ha ha ha of the season instead of the no no no.
YES! This is a real family photo!!!
Children tend to feel anxious if they do not receive all the gifts that they are asking for. Parents tend to feel pressured to give them all the gifts they ask for. So how do you balance the two without breaking the budget or watching your child break into tears?
Managing expectations prior to the holiday season not only sets clear boundaries for children but it sets up the conversation about what to expect for the big day. And it’s never too early to lay the foundation of finances. Using examples they can relate to, like comparing it to electronics time, will help them gain a clear understanding of what it means to use time (and money) wisely.
For more tips about managing holiday expectations, visit this Green Child Magazine article on this topic.
And as with everything in life, remember to take care of you first.
You are enough and you got this!!!! This is your season too.
There are plenty of “to-do’s” that can be delegated or eliminated . Accept that learning to say “no” is not a bad word. Perhaps instead of overcommitting yourself, set your boundaries and pick traditions that will create lasting memories. (Hint: The“Holiday Traditions” blog of ideas coming out soon.)
After all, kids will grow to forget presents but not the traditions. The gifts they remember from year-to-year, and long into their own journey into parenthood, are the ones that don’t come wrapped in a box or topped with a bow.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
