It’s Halloween evening. The kids are asleep with sugar comas, and I’m sitting next to a pumpkin bucket of candy with a tiny bit of a hangover. Are you there too?
Welcome to Parenting Finals (aka The Holidays)
I love Halloween, but like many holidays, I’m also a bit relieved when it’s over and life can go back to normal. After Halloween in particular I’m reminded that it’s end only signals the beginning of a much bigger, much more stressful holiday season. I’ve heard it referred to as The Parenting Finals. Parents are put to the test like never before. Activities! Decor (pinterest worthy duh)! The best gifts (but on a tight budget)! Home baked pies! (Oh no, not the food processor!) Advent! Elf on the Shelf! Charity! Parties! All while doing all the other stuff! And make sure it’a magical and meaningful! Cookies in the shape of trees! Trees in the shape of cookies! Now…..GO!
I think we need to give ourselves a break and reign it in. Here’s what I’m thinking.
First, I want to decide beforehand what our budget is for each event, party, gift giving situation. Also, I want to decide how many gifts each child is getting beforehand. Something small and reasonable. No more extra stuff at the last minute. I want each gift to be really thoughtful and not a spontaneous purchase.
Next, I’m going to make a list of all the holiday/advent activities we normally do and decide together as a family which ones are the most meaningful with the idea of cutting out half of them. We’ll see if we can agree on these. I’m thinking we can cut out advent altogether, or change the expectations like reading a different book every night.
Lastly, I want to make service more of a priority. I’d love to hear your ideas on this. What are your favorite service oriented activities for the holiday season?
What do you think? Can we handle a minimal holiday? Do you want to to? Let’s try!
Henry as Napoleon Dynamite, Edie as a Witch, Dot as a black cat.