Older children seem to thrive on the hectic pace of the holiday season. As I write this, my daughter and her two best buddies are making sugar cookies in the kitchen. They've only called me to help once. At age nine they can do so much more on their own. We had school parties, a cookie exchange, Girl Scout and church activities this month. This week will be about visiting friends and family, exchanging gifts, cooking, wrapping, and then ten cousins at grandmother's for Christmas. Whew! It's easy to go and go until someone ends up sick, so I try to include these habits in our Christmas week.
Check the calendar. . .
Update your holiday planning book and calendar with your final Christmas plans. Write all activities on the calendar to get an idea of your busy times.
Use your energy wisely . . .
Use your high energy times to prepare for the family gatherings, gift giving, and Christmas morning. Organize and prepare clothes that will be worn, do your shopping, make recipes ahead of time. Let your older child help with list-making to organize shopping, cooking, and gifts.
Be selfish about your family's quiet time . . .
Turn down the lights, turn on the Christmas lights, put on some beautiful Christmas music, and just relax together. Watch a movie, wrap some presents, make a craft or ornament, read a story aloud, whatever you enjoy. Don't even think about all of the things you have to do tomorrow; you'll get it done then!
Model good stress coping skills . . .
Don't let yourself or your children become so exhausted and irritable that someone loses contol. Tell them what you are doing, "We're going to be so busy this weekend I want us to relax and rest in the evenings this week."
Give everyone a job. . .
Post a job list on the refrigerator, so you won't need to remind everyone of what needs to be done. Then, all you have to do is glance at the refrigerator to see who is keeping up and who needs a bit of 'logical consequences'.
Well, I better go check on those cookies, get out my calendar, and make my job list. I'm feeling better already. Hope you have a restful week filled with close, quiet family times.
