All Is Calm
It’s December. Your calendar is packed full of holiday parties and concerts. There’s decorating to do, cookies to bake, gifts to purchase, and traditions to schedule. It’s stressful and can run any Mom ragged. There’s so much to do that we don’t take the time to stop and enjoy the stillness and wonder of the year. The hustle and bustle of the season is overwhelming, it’s hard to slow down and enjoy December.
How amazing would it feel to NOT be frazzled, tired and rundown this holiday season?
Imagine relaxing next to a hot fire, fuzzy socks on your feet, a coffee mug warming up your chilly hands. You smile as you look around you at your giggling family happily opening presents. You’re filled with so much joy and gratitude. Everyone is happy, and you’re relaxed, just soaking in the magic of the holiday. No stress, no frustration, just peace and calm.
When you think back about the month of December, you’re so glad you slowed down and did things differently this year. You got everything important done, but for the first time in forever you truly enjoyed this month. You stopped and soaked in the moments. You didn’t let your to do list rule your holiday. Instead you focused on what really mattered.
You loved the holidays this year, and today…today is just the icing on the cake.
It sounds wonderful, huh? I know what you’re thinking…a joyful, less chaotic holiday season is just not possible. But what if I told you it was?
Tip #1: Know and honor yourself
Know what you need to stay well, good and sane and schedule it in. Like, now!
Will you need to go for a walk daily to get some headspace over the winter break? Tell your other half now and plan for it. Will you need to see friends regularly? Book those coffee and lunch dates today. Want a kid-free night out with your co-parent? Schedule the sitter and make the reservation now.
Remember: this is your break too and you will be a better Mama (and partner!) if you get what you need.
Tip #2: Find and play with that balance
When busy Moms talk about balance, we are often referring to the tug between work and family life. But there is also a balance to be found when we are at home with family over the holidays. Look for that balance between structured time and free-flow, between action and rest, between doing and being. Or how about between group time and solitary time?
Tip #3: Prioritize one-on-one time
So if you have more than one kid, it is likely that the source of sibling rivalry or attention seeking comes from each kid wanting more attention from you. Nip this in the bud by ensuring that over the break you each get some quality one-on-one time together. This year I’m also encouraging the kids to get some one-on-one time with each other, with their father AND of course, for Dad and I to get some one-on-one time, too.
Tip #4: Keep your evenings (or mornings)
So whether you choose to stick with the school time bedtime routine or to let the kids stay up later, make sure that you take full advantage of those extra kid-in-bed moments. This does not mean waking up before they do to do laundry or tidy up. No, no, no. This means waking up before they do to go for that walk, to stretch, to sleep in, to read your favorite book.
Tip #5: Boredom is a blessing
Don’t feel like you need to schedule every minute of the holiday season. Allowing your child to be bored will help them think outside the box and be creative. Give them the space and the opportunity to be lazy, rest, hang out in their pajamas all day (this goes for parents as well).
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