Winter Blues
November 11, 2011Is the Merry Missing from Your Holidays?
December 1, 2011“Ah, come on, dad, this could be the miracle that saves The Simpsons Christmas! If TV has taught me anything, it’s that miracles always happens to poor kids at Christmas. It happened to Tiny Tim, it happened to Charlie Brown, it happened to The Smurfs, and it’s gonna happen to us!” ~ Bart Simpson
Even though the movie marathons are starting soon, holiday movie classics DO NOT reflect real life. If that were true, it’d always snow and never be unsafe to drive, kids would unwrap every item on their wish lists, and everyone would be wearing the same kind, color and brand of sweater. Get real! The holidays aren’t perfect….because nobody is perfect!
Want to make this holiday season a lot easier on yourself and your family? Make reasonable expectations:
- Do your best to stick to your regular family routine. Changing your schedule to fit in holiday activities and traveling can be tough on you and your kids, so try to keep things as normal as possible. Try to keep bedtimes and mealtimes the same even when you’re away from home.
- Talk with your family about schedules. Take time to explain each day’s activities to your children and let them know what you expect from them. Together, choose activities that you really want to do. You can’t do everything, so you might let your children pick their favorite things for your family to do. Do the things that you all will enjoy the most, and then say “no” to extra activities.