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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Casual Christmas: 5 Sanity Savers for the Season

Waiting for Christmas can take all month!
     The holidays mean many things to many people.  I shared many of my happy childhood traditions last year in my post Advent-ure.  The holiday time is joyful.  It is also extremely busy.  There are many ways to fill up the month with preparations and parties.

     This year I have a new outlook on the big day.  Would you like to hear it? It is just ONE day.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking the wonder of Christmas.  I'm just saying that I am not going to spend every waking moment hustling to create the perfect day.  For one thing, after all that work I'm sure to be disappointed.  No amount of fanfare on the big day is going to satisfy me after all that labor!  So here is what I am keeping in mind:

1. What is really necessary?  

2. What are my limits?

3. Who can help?

4. What do I want from this holiday?

5. Who am I doing this for?

     One way I plan to reduce stress is to knock baking off the to do list.  I am debating about the cards.  I really like to keep in touch with friends and family.  However if the cute family photo shoot doesn't happen it won't be the end of the world.  

   I am shopping local.  In addition to the lack of travel time, I am supporting a wonderful product Save It Bags. They are a practical gift for all the school lunchers on my list. My kids have fun picking out special fabrics for everyone. 

   I will not head to the mall.  We have wonderful small shops in town.  Whatever I can't find there, such as Legos, I can buy online.  I also have an awesome personal shopper.  She calls me whenever she finds something and picks up for me.  Thanks, you are the best!

   I will reduce decorating.  The tree and manger will be featured.  We will cut a big pine from our yard where we planted them over a decade ago. We will decorate together.  Whatever the family wants to do in one afternoon will be enough.

    I will limit our Christmas activities.  We attend an annual children's party featuring a magician, hayrides, sledding and a visit from Santa.  It is a wonderful event that my family enjoys.  Since the big guy will be there, we don't need to visit him anywhere else in town.

   My mother-in-law pulled together an early Christmas within a few days of being in the hospital.  You may be wondering how and so did I.  She shopped for toys and had a simple dinner of a deli platter and side salads.  Instead of focusing on the big meal hubbub, we were able to appreciate the delight as the children opened gifts and had time to talk over the table.  It was a relaxing Christmas gathering and shouldn't we enjoy our holiday time together?  

8 comments:

  1. Great minds think alike - lol. I just wrote about simplifying Christmas, too. Great post!

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    1. Thanks Barb, I enjoyed yours as well. I used to decorate on December 1 to enjoy it all month and last year I kept hearing, "Is it Christmas yet?" I decided to lay low a little this year to not get the kids bouncing off the walls with Christmas excitement.

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  2. Very Well said Mic and your welcome

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  3. Love the idea--it's just one day. The reverse is that other days can be special as well.

    Children can be taught to be givers, not just takers at Christmas. I have a child at my church who is always giving to me his drawings. He has learned early. One days he told me that he needed boxes for a play activity and I was able to bring him those boxes without spending additional money.

    And we can give the gifts of caring, listening and praying for others. How much more valuable are those gifts anyway!

    Hugs,
    Carol

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    1. In last year's post http://mickyoutsidethebox.blogspot.com/2011/12/advent-ure.html I talked to my kids about kindness. We like to donate one of our gifts by giving a book to the library too. I'll bet your little buddy loved those boxes!

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  4. O Micky! In the midst of being busy I got off track for Christmas presents and cards by taking a trip to the hospital. I am so glad now to be alive and things will get done when they get done for these holidays.

    Hug your kids and family as we all are doing after this horrible tragedy in CT.

    Hugs and prayers for you too.

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  5. Carol I hope you ate feeling better now. Yes we do need to keep life in perspective and treasure pur loved ones.

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