Tips For Enjoying Christmas Break
The holiday season is upon us and we want to give you some perspectives for keeping sane. Our best holiday memories usually stem not from perfect planning and organization, but from the joy of being together and doing things together. It was the laughter. It was choosing to laugh and enjoy each other when the choices were to laugh or cry. Holidays are times for enjoying each other, regardless of whether or not everything is perfect.
Here are some tips to help you enjoy a perfectly imperfect holiday season this year.
Set limits with family and friends
Some people fear setting limits with their parents, in-laws, other family members, and friends because they worry about upsetting them. The only people who get upset by loving limits are people who really need them!
Don’t be afraid to say things like, “We can’t wait to see you. We will need to leave by six so that we can get the kids in bed by a reasonable hour.”
Set limits with your kids
Sometimes we avoid setting limits with our children at family get-togethers because we want to keep the peace or avoid meltdowns. Ironically, this leads to far more fits and far less harmony.
Plan ahead and provide a quiet spot for recovery
Particularly with small children, ask family and friends, “Is there a quiet place where my little one can go for some recovery time if they start to test limits or get overstimulated?”
I vividly remember being sent to my grandparents’ bedroom as a result of being unruly during a holiday meal. I also remember lying on their bed, screaming, punching their pillows, and falling fast asleep. I was worn out!
Don’t feel guilty about placing yourself in recovery
I love my family—but I still find it helpful to give myself some brief “bathroom time” so that I can regain the ability to exercise self-control.
Remember that this too shall pass
Despite our best laid plans, sometimes the wheels come off and things get ugly. At these times, it’s often comforting to remember that every situation, bad or good, is merely temporary and will pass.
Thanks for reading—we wish you a perfectly imperfect holiday season!
From Love and Logic Insider’s Club by Dr. Charles Fay
Blessings on your week and worship.
Michelle Gerlach, Family Life
