Holiday Stress anyone?

[Rebecca]

It is that time again. This seems to be the hardest time of the year for many families because of all of the extra demands of the season. We're trying to shop for our children and stay within our budget, which is probably more of an issue this year than in years past. We're dealing with extra events, extra people, and a pace that seems somehow different from the rest of the year.

How do you manage to keep our stress under control? How do you navigate relationships that might not be supportive of the relationship-focused approach to raising our children? I'd love to hear what's difficult about right now and what ideas you all have to make this time of the year less stressful for yourself and for your children. Maybe it is I who need some ideas! I look forward to a wonderful conversation on this topic!

[dkreynolds]

I sincerely wish with all my heart the holidays didn’t stress me out….I don’t even like to be around me for the holidays. I have found myself many times on both Thanksgiving and Christmas, down in bed very ill from all the stress. My stress arises from the perfection my mother expects of me, and for the life of me I can’t step out of that fear. My mother has no qualms about criticizing the condition of my home, the gifts, the food, etc…..it must be perfect and they way she has always done it, or she will let you know! So that expectation on top of the little or no help I get from the husband makes it a HUGE stressor for me. Hubby’s “help” is setting the tree in the stand and walking away! My husband does not enjoy Christmas as much as he use to, his mother passed away on Christmas night and his father lay dying in the hospital 3 Christmas later, so I try not to push the issue. But now with having 6 children to buy for and others it gets to be a little overwhelming. I have made the rule now that 3 gifts are all they receive….if it worked for Jesus; it should work for them, too. That’s cut the stress a little.

Well, now I feel like Scrooge, but will breathe and work through it all….I hope!

Blessings to all for, hopefully, a less stressed holiday season.

[RegularDaddy76]

I'm actually staying relatively sane during this years holiday season. I went shopping on black Friday and found most of the things I needed.

The marketing company I work for is actually doing a Christmas campaign for Macy's that involves a Letters to Santa service. You can view the website at:

http://www.macysbelieve.com/#/YesVirginia?ga=communityact

You can print out special stationary to have your kids write the letters on, then you can go to Macy's and mail them. They set up special mailboxes in their stores. For every letter received, Macy's will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish foundation. It's a nice way to help spread Christmas cheer!

:wave

[booboo]

Thanks for the macy link I emailed it to my 8yr old daughter. We decided not to send cards out this year! Wow what a great idea for once. although we are still going to take picture. The kids and I made cookies to give away as gifts then realized it was resally tooo much work and decided to just eat them instead.......