Christmas planning
Are you ready for Christmas? Are you finished your Christmas shopping? Sometimes the hustle and bustle of Christmas can almost get to be too much. Plan to pause, reflect and enjoy this Christmas!
Joy and happiness almost always come as a result of giving – giving hugs, giving help, giving of oneself, giving encouragement and giving a second chance.
This is especially true when it comes to developing and maintaining relationships in the holiday season. It is often a time when people are brought together with different needs, wants and expectations of what Christmas means to them.
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Accepting each other for who we are, complete with all our strengths and weaknesses, will help us to accommodate and respect differing ideas, customs and traditions, and have peace and harmony in the home and family, too.
Do what is best for you and yours. Remember past Christmases, and what you liked most about them. What do you want to see happen? Make it happen. As Stephen Covey said: “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
Resources often seem to be in short supply. By choosing carefully, we can be in a position to maximize our holiday happiness by making best use of the resources of time, talent, energy, attitude and money. It is often easiest deciding what to do when one knows what is important to us. Even youngsters know what they like to do.
In a family democracy, each individual needs to be a part of the planning. When everyone is deciding on Christmas plans, the family has an opportunity to discuss how best each individual can help to make the Christmas merry.
Maybe there is some tradition that is more habit than choice that should be reconsidered this year? Think about alternatives and how they can be carried out to satisfy the family values.
The women in one of our extended families talked among themselves and came up with terrific alternatives that have increased family bonding. It turned out to be a rewarding experience for all of us. We realized the importance to us of gathering together as a large family, and we came up with alternatives that make it easier for everyone. Consider the following alternatives for a creative fulfilling Christmas:
- If seniors and the youngsters want to do some special bonding, allow time for activities when these two groups can be together in a comfortable manner.
- Maybe you want to have more time to talk with different members of the family. Plan for it. Have an accepting attitude.
- Family pictures might be a priority. Pick a time and take some pictures.
- If meal preparation seems overwhelming, perhaps potluck dinner using family talents will be better than one person feeling depleted of energy.
- Consider alternatives in gift-giving – a $5 gift exchange, drawing numbers to see who chooses the first gift. As well as saving money, young and old alike value the love, warmth and laughter this tradition brings.
- Ask each family member to contribute ideas of specific activities that he/she wants to see happen this holiday, and list them. When a person is in on the planning, they’ll be less Scrooge-like.
- Assess the ages and abilities of different family members, and see if they are able and willing to help with the festivities. This makes best use of all the energy levels.
- Sledding, carolling, having friends over, gathering family history or hugging each family member may be on the list of priorities. Set time aside for each activity.
- Take time to relax, enjoy and soak up the festive atmosphere. Treasure the time spent with family and friends, reminiscing past celebrations, enjoying the present and creating new memories for the future.
One book I look forward to perusing every Christmas season is Unplug the Christmas Machine – a complete guide to putting love and joy back into the season by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Stacheli, published by William Morrow and Company, New York. It has an interesting title, and wonderful suggestions for alternatives to commercialism at Christmas.
A friend of mine said, “Christmas has come full circle, from commercialism back to ecology and frugality.” How true.
Poem sought
Dear TEAM: I would like to get the words to a poem called Winnipeg at Christmas. It was in a school reader in the 1940s and I have had no luck relocating it. I believe it was a grade three or four book. – E.W., Foam Lake, Sask.
Dear TEAM: I have books of plays and Christmas concert programs. If you are interested, call Mike, 306-283-4465. – M.H., Langham, Sask.
