25th of September

Today is 3 months till Christmas. For some of you this evokes a feeling of panic. I propose it should elicit a sense of excitement, of joy, of anticipation. Christmas no longer stresses me out and I'll tell you why.

1. I start early. The Christmas crowds have their charm, with all the decorations, the music, the gift-giving spirit. That gets old pretty quick though, and we get tired and grouchy and feel put-upon. Catch a sale now and then and start early so you don't get stressed, and then keep a list so you don't forget what you bought.

2. Don't buy for everyone just because they bought for you or for any other obligation you might feel. Lose the guilt! Let the spirit of gift-giving fill you and direct you to those who should receive your gift.

3. Consider gifts from the heart. I always have a goal to have a totally homemade Christmas but am so tempted by the pretty things to buy. Start small. Consider hand-written notes of thanks with a small pretty piece of chocolate for the teachers and other such people in your life. Chances are they are bogged down with gifts and would appreciate a simple token of appreciation for their efforts.

4. Teach your children the real meaning of Christmas and encourage them to give to those less fortunate. Find ways to serve those in need. One family I know used the majority of their Christmas money to buy toys for kids in the hospital. Another dad I know always takes his daughter to serve breakfast to the homeless on the holidays. In our family we fill the stockings and give each child one gift. David and I don't buy for each other but save the money for something fun during the year. Big Christmases are fun, but when children receive too much it's hard for them to transition to simple Christmases when they start out on their own.

5. I finally have a gift exchange on every side of our family. It's awesome! Buying for every little person is exhausting and spendy. One side of our family exchanges a new family picture every Christmas so we have updated photos of every family. Love it! Another side has a gift exchange between adults and one between the children. Simple. You only buy one gift for every member of your family to give. Another side is doing a family game exchange this Christmas. We all like to play games so it will be fun for each family to have a new game.

6. Fill your holidays with those things that make you happy. The holidays can easily bog you down with the endless parties and activities. Choose the ones you want and lose the guilt. Caroling, cookie-baking, decorating, parties, Santa pictures, etc. All fun, but not necessary, so pick your favorites and enjoy!

I hope this holiday season is the happiest ever for you and your family!