Things You'll Need:
- Calendar for planning
- Local paper and/or internet site for information
- Phone book
- Craft supplies as needed.
- Baking supplies as needed.
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Step 1
The first thing you need to do is get a grip on your idea of Christmas. Get rid of the stress, whatever it takes. If you are planning to go to a relative's house and that is causing you stress, change your plans to stay home and visit the relative on a weekend BEFORE Christmas. Quite often young families are expected to go to their parent's house for Christmas, which can be a source of multiple stresses: which parent's house to go to, what to take with you, who else will be there, and so on. It is much better to visit on a weekend before the actual holiday and spend a more peaceful and relaxed Christmas at home with your immediate family. Although this can cause some friction at first suggestion, once in place it will tremendously free up your time and your mind.
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Step 2
The next step is to take out your calendar. Mark all scheduled Christmas parties and events that you either MUST or WANT to attend. This will give you an idea of how busy you already have to be and how much time you have to plan other things you want to do.
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Step 3
Now decide whether you want to try and do something weekly during the month of December, daily during the 12 days of Christmas, or a combination of the two. The latter choice can really extend the joy of the season if you aren't already too occupied.
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Step 4
Now plan an activity for each week and each of the 12 days of Christmas. Here are some suggestions:
* Start the day after Thanksgiving - make it a family tradition to decorate the house for Christmas on this day. One of the most pleasurable ways to spend this day is to walk in the woods and/or the beach and find natural "treasures" with which to decorate the house and tree. You can make your own garlands, wreaths, ornaments, and decorations from pine cones, shells, mosses, evergreen boughs, vines, sea glass, pieces of driftwood, and abandoned bird's nests.
* Most large churches have some sort of Christmas play or Passion play during this time of year. This is usually free or very inexpensive and is a great family activity to foster the Christmas spirit.
* There is usually a performance of The Nutcracker Suite playing somewhere near you - also an excellent seasonal tradition.
* Many elderly people at retirement homes are neglected throughout the year and this is especially true at Christmas time. You can make a homemade greeting card, an orange & clove pomadore, a tiny basket of lotions, or other item(s) suggested by the center and make a holiday visit to a lonely senior. The home can connect you with someone and the joy they receive from this visit is worth more than any present you could receive. It is also good for your children to learn to show attention and compassion to others.
* Contact a nearby children's home and plan a visit there, using the suggestions of the home for what to bring, when to go and what to do while there. It is especially good for your children to see how fortunate they are and to share their good fortune with children less so.
* Go see Santa! Don't do it in the middle of a stressed-out shopping trip. Make a special trip just to see Santa and follow it up with a hot cup of cocoa.
* Plan an evening of driving around to see Christmas lights. Again, follow it up with hot cocoa and let everyone talk about their favorites.
* With your children, put together a bag of food for the local shelter. Deliver it together and let your children see how the food bank and shelter operate and why. If you wish, check on volunteering at some point during the holidays.
* Make a gingerbread house together! Either get a kit or, better yet, go online and get instructions to make your own from scratch. You can also put one together using grahams, ready-made frosting, pretzels and candies. -
Step 5
* Clean out toy boxes, shelves and closets to make room for new items. Donate good used items to women's shelters for the women and children there. Donate men's items to the homeless shelters. Sing Christmas carols as you work!
* Make and decorate Christmas cookies for friends and neighbors. Be sure to let kids make some for their friends and do their own decorating. Perfection is not the goal here - participation is. Make it colorful and lots of fun!
* Go to a tree farm or a friend's farm with permission to choose and cut your own tree. Remember, the tree will look MUCH larger in your home and will stand taller in a stand.
* Have a secret Santa get together with friends, family and neighbors. Keep the dollar amount low for the most fun and creativity. Consider a theme gift.
* Have a white elephant party. Everyone brings one wrapped gift - the stranger the better. Draw numbers and pick a gift in order. Unwrap and either keep what you got or trade with someone else. Tons of laughs!
* Watch one or more favorite holiday movies together as a family. Make a night of it with take-out pizza, movie-style popcorn, and hot cocoa again!
* Have a family meeting and decide on one "giving" gift for this year - a donation to your favorite charity, adoption of a child in need, a gift for a less fortunate child or adult, a gift of time to a local shelter, or some other meaningfull sharing of your time or finances to someone else.
* Have the kids help you make as many dishes for Christmas Dinner in advance as possible, freeze or refrigerate them, and keep the cooking on Christmas day to a minimum so everyone can enjoy visiting and playing.
* Have a holiday movie for everyone else to watch while the clean-up crew cleans up after the dinner. At our house, no one opens presents until the clean-up is done and the movie is over!
* The day after Christmas, have a family scrapbook pages session and get all those pictures and memories into a scrapbook now while it's all fresh.
