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The holiday season is upon us and for many parents, it brings an unwelcome "gift" –stress. With so many places to go, things to do and presents to buy, it’s easy to understand why. When parents are stressed, their interactions with their children are often not as positive as they might otherwise be.
Often, parents put very high expectations on themselves to provide the picture-perfect holiday for their kids. It’s easy to get caught up in the holiday "stuff" and forget to focus on the spirit of the season. However, by taking some easy steps to gain control and manage the holiday mayhem, you can enjoy a lower-stress season with your children.
Take time out now to look at your list of things to do and places to go, and decide what you can eliminate. When you start cutting back, you’ll probably find that your expectations for yourself were much higher than the expectations of others, and chances are you won’t be disappointing anyone.
Here are some easy steps you can take to make the most of the season, while avoiding common sources of holiday stress:
- Decide which holiday traditions are most important to you and your family, then, focus on just those things. For example, if everyone loves having a tree decorated in the living room, make that a priority. However, if no one really cares whether all the lights get hung outside, cross it off your to-do list.
- Stick to established routines with your child. It is important that eating and napping schedules are consistent, especially during these hectic times.
- Don’t forget to take time out for yourself. Eating right, exercising and including a little “down time” each day is just as important for you as it is for your child.
- Include your children in holiday preparations. One simple and fun way to do this is to decorate cookies together. If you don’t have the time to bake them yourself, you can get baked, undecorated cookies from your local bakery, which allows you to spend time with your children doing the really fun part – decorating them!
These strategies are a great way to keep your family’s holiday expectations manageable and ensure that the true spirit of the season doesn’t get lost in all the modern-day details.
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