Twas mid-December, and the pressure is building
As parents scramble to fill a list that is growing
The children are bouncing off of the walls
With visions of presents and huge popcorn balls.
And what do Mom and Dad wish the most
During this season of gifts and being a host?
To find some peace in the middle of the noise
And to recapture that feeling of Christmas joys.
If you find yourself at your wits’ end this time of year,
here are some tips for surviving Christmas and New Year’s.
1. Know your
children’s limits. Meltdowns generally happen when kids are tired, cranky
and/or hungry. One way to help a child not have a temper tantrum is to ensure
they are not constantly overtired and overwhelmed.
For example, if the kids are young, don’t skip too many naps
or push bedtime back too often. If large crowds tend to over-stimulate them,
such as at a party, find a quieter space for them to decompress during the
evening. Just keeping an eye on the clock and leaving
2. Be prepared.
Having the resources to help a child avoid a meltdown is just smart parenting.
For example, when our children were toddlers, we would bring a snack with us
when going to my in-laws for dinner because the meal would usually be served
later than the children were used to eating. Making sure the children had a
snack helped them not become overly cranky waiting for dinner.
Having an “entertainment” bag with favorite books, drawing
pad/coloring book with colored pencils or crayons, small stuffed animals or
plastic figurines or cars can be a great way to help a child find something to
do at locations that aren’t as kid-friendly as your home.
3. Remember your own
childhood excitement. Let’s face it—this time of year, we as adults
sometimes get way too busy and stressed to really recall the magic of
Christmas, the thrill of ringing in the New Year. That “amnesia” can make us
short with our kids’ natural exuberance about presents and seeing family and Santa.
Think about how much you enjoyed about the holidays and keep
that image and feeling in mind as you hear your children’s squeals of
excitement, see them bouncing around the house, and generally become nearly
overwrought with anticipation. Having that empathy will help keep our own
Scroogeness in check.
4. Relax and enjoy
the holidays. Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect—truly it doesn’t!
Finding just the right gift, or baking the perfect cookies, or selecting the
best tree on the lot shouldn’t be our aim this time of year. We should remember
that Christmas is less about things and more about people.
But if we run around frantic to create the most perfect
Christmas ever, we will inevitably lose out on the enjoyment to be found in the
quieter moments. Don’t overlook the magic of family traditions, such as driving
around in pajamas looking at Christmas lights. Those are the memories that your
children will take with them into adulthood.
Use this guide to have your own very Merry Christmas!
