So soon, the holidays approach! Are you ready for the togetherness?
I try to stay in a perpetual state of Thanksgiving and Praise - and some days it is harder than others! Unfortunately, it seems to be harder for most of us around the holidays - why is that?
We are approaching one of the most joyous and holy seasons of the year all around the world. We all look forward to joining together with family and friends, eating too much, staying out too long and barrels of laughter and good times. Too often though, the holiday season turns into a period of time with an over-booked calendar of events that no one in the house is enjoying. It isn't fair to anyone of our family members to continue such a routine.
How do we stop the madness and begin to enjoy the holidays again? I know, it seems we're all trapped in expectations. Family expectations, professional expectations, political expectations - where do we draw the line? We can spend our lives living up to another's expectations, or we can be strong adult role models for our children and act as independent adults.
Even though today we are taking about holidays, keep in mind that every place you read 'holidays' can be replaced with 'life'. Today, we make small changes for the health and well-being of our families - start small and in the future, you can make larger changes, improving your family life and the childhood of those near and dear to you!
Try these simple steps to begin enjoying the holidays again! Ask Yourself:
- What is the single most important lesson (for you and your family) about the holidays? We all come from different traditions, but in regards to Thanksgiving, I know the children are going to be taught the rudiments of the historical Thanksgiving in school over and over again,which is necessary to a point. However,the most important lesson learned about the American Thanksgiving I want emphasized in our home is the recognition of and sharing of our many blessings with family and friends.
As a Christian, if I were to ask myself the same question in regards to Christmas, I would have to answer the most important lesson is the gift of our love and salvation in the birth of God's son.
- Now that you know the lesson you would like to emphasize in our families, we need to ask ourselves, "How is the best way to celebrate and enjoy at the same time?" Will you spend time at church? Will you volunteer? Will you attend holiday parties? Will the celebrations be a mixture of family and friends, or will the celebrations be mixed?
Traditionally in our home, Thanksgiving is a time of coming together - just as in the first Thanksgiving - of family and friends. Our door is cast open to any and all that would like to break bread with us. It is a time to share our blessings and learn about the traditions of our friends.
In regards to Christmas, it is a religous celebration and much of the season is spent in the bosom of our family emphasizing the spiritual rather than the party-Christmas so popular. We have severely limited our outside engagements through the years. It is easy to get caught up in the expectations of others - the bosses Christmas party - the supervisor's Christmas party, etc. used for little more than a chance to impress. What do you want your children's memories and perceptions of this season to be? Set out to make those memories come true.
- Hand-in-hand with the how to celebrate the holidays, you will have to decide how many parties to go to. Set a limit before the invitations start coming and stick to it! Doing so will reduce stress - so prevelent over this time period. It is not necessary - nor is it wise - financially or mentally - to accept every invitation sent your way!
- Speaking of setting limits - what about gifts? The other major stressor felt during the holidays is financial - buying for Uncle Hal and Aunt Jane and all of their little darlings and each successive generation is taxing on the wallet! You cannot enjoy the holidays when you've over spent! If you are of a tradition which gives gifts, decide how much you can spend, budget it and when it is gone, it is gone! Don't use credit cards or skip paying bills to buy more things for the holidays! If you look back at the first question you answered, I would be willing to bet that 'gifts' was not one of the important things listed!
Many family traditions can be started from within which make the days spent together memorable...and they don't have to cost money! Take the time to enjoy this year - and make sure to take plenty of pictures of your wonderful family growing, laughing and loving together!
Sample these tasty Turkey-time offerings from other Suite101 columnists!
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