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Cut the Chaos: Getting a Jump on Holiday Madness
Parenting contributor Lian Dolan on the virtues of holiday preparation.
Here we are in that sweet lull between Halloween and the holiday chaos that hits mid-November. We can choose not to think about what obligations lie ahead in the next six weeks (food, family, frenzy) or we can do a few items on our annual Holiday To-Do List and breathe easier come December. I’m a big believer in working ahead so you can enjoy the moment. When I was pregnant with my second child, I went into preterm labor at 30 weeks over Thanksgiving weekend. Bed rest was the best thing that ever happened to a Holiday Over-Achiever like me. We had a scaled-back but meaningful Christmas season that still stands out as one of my favorites. (And I had a healthy baby boy on Groundhog Day.) So whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or the winter solstice, here are my tips to cut the chaos and get a jump on the Holidays.
Take the family photo now! Really, stop reading and start clicking your digital camera. If you take a nice, tight headshot of the kids and dog, you don’t even need to buy matching snowflake sweaters. Forget about art-directing the perfect image of the perfect family. Your kids are cute; any photo will do. Snap it, order the cards, and start addressing those envelopes.
Think theme gifts. Organize gift-giving around a single theme. One gift does fit all, especially your budget and your time. Make it the Year of the Gourmet Brownies! Or Wool Socks! Or Personalized Tote Bag! Last year, I gave everyone in my family — man, woman and child — a reasonably priced down vest in eye-catching colors. One store, one hour, all the shopping I needed. My brother declared it “The vest Christmas ever.”
Display only half of your decorations. Breathe deeply — you can do this. You can leave some of the artificial gourds/holly-berry wreaths and talking reindeer in the basement. You don’t need a menorah in every room or the best lights on the block. Nobody will notice but you. Prevent holiday stress by spending half the time decorating, half the time putting away, and you’ll double the time enjoying your family.
Plan on skipping one big event. It’s okay to say no, even to a “holiday tradition.” Nobody needs more stress, especially this year, so don’t let the annual cookie exchange add to the chaos. Take this year off. Instead, celebrate the season with calm reflection and simple joy, surrounded by the people who really matter to you.
About the author: Lian Dolan is a writer, mother, Satellite Sister and creator of The Chaos Chronicles, a podcast, blog and website about modern motherhood.
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This year I will be working both Thanksgiving and Christmas as we are limited on how much time we can take off. My schedule requires being very organized, so my Christmas cards are already on the truck. I will start addressing the envelopes and put a personal note in each to be mailed after Thanksgiving. Christmas with our kids will be in a hotel room in NJ after my neice's wedding next week. No shopping involved except for a small package for each that can be carried around the country til we see them. Other obligations will keep my kids occupied for Thanksgiving. My son is excited about cooking a huge dinner for some friends (including an Israeli) who dont "get" Thanksgiving. He is hoping to show them why he loves our traditional feast. We don't expect to get home until Dec. 27th, so there will be no seasonal decorations. However, we expect both kids, a son-in-law, his mother, sister and brother-in-law to arrive about the same time. Not being home to stress about everything being perfect takes the pressure off. The holidays are about being with family and friends. If I have time some homemade goodies may appear. Otherwise, Publix in Florida has a great bakery and deli for feeding an impromptu party. Happy Holidays Everyone! Sunshine, Tallahassee
Great tips, Sunshine! Good luck on managing all that work, family and holiday Chaos. Sounds like you are on track... Lian
This year I am going to tone down on all the holiday activities. With our downward economy and the effects of it, the last thing I want to do is add additional stress. I like your suggestion, to celebrate the season with calm reflection and simple joy, surrounded by the people who really matter to you.