Here are some things we’ve found to make it all work:
- No matter how much you plan, things will go wrong. So be ready to let things go — especially the things that are near the bottom of your holiday wish list.
- Having fixed, relatively early bedtimes for the kids during this busy season is especially important. They need consistent sleep, and parents need a few extra hours each week. Everyone will be happier if you follow this tip!
- Create annual traditions. Kids love to have things to look forward to. Maybe your family has decided to build a snowman in front of your house each year on Winter Solstice, or perhaps it’s watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” on TV. In years to come your children will talk about, and look forward to, those traditions in ways you can’t imagine (unless you had traditions growing up as a child).
- Consider your children’s developmental levels when making holiday plans. If you have toddlers, having holiday decorations with pretty glass balls is asking for trouble, especially if they are at floor level. If you have a climber, then putting things just out of his or her little reach isn’t smart either. You can do it, but you may spend most of the season saying, “NO!”
- Pay careful attention to what your kids are dreaming of for gifts. Several years ago my second son told Santa that the only thing he wanted was Donkey Kong Country 2. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen until the week before Christmas, when every copy of the game was sold out in our area (does this sound strangely like a movie plot?). Well, you guessed it, I wound up driving to a small town two hours away (four hours round trip) to get the last copy of the game to be had. Since my son knew the game was out of stock everywhere, he felt especially loved by the gift, and it was well worth the drive — but this year I’m keeping my ear to the ground early! By the way, I’m sure parents started the tradition of getting kids to write letters to Santa just so they could find out what their children wanted.
- Include the kids whenever you can in your holiday preparation. Kids love art projects, so get them to make your holiday cards and decorate wrapping paper. Coloring can be fun, or with supervision, they can sponge paint snowflakes, holiday trees, candles, and other holiday symbols onto brown craft paper for an inexpensive yet festive look.
- Kids also love to get involved in the kitchen. Instead of making a complicated candy recipe (that even a talented cook has trouble getting just right and encourages over-indulgence), choose a simple, healthier alternative. I like melting high-quality dark chocolate in a double boiler. When it is in a creamy state, help your little one dip about one-third of a slice of dried apple into the chocolate mixture. Lay the chocolate-covered apples onto a sheet of waxed paper to cool. For extra fun, sprinkle chopped organic walnuts or pecans on the apples while they are still warm. This recipe is very easy, healthy, and delicious.
- While pretty packages make a house look festive, some young children can’t seem to resist the temptation to peek. Waiting until the last minute to put gifts out can save energy (re-wrapping Grandma’s and Auntie’s gifts) and make the surprise even more special — it’s no wonder Santa arrives just before time to open the packages!
Holiday magic can’t be forced. It comes at the most unexpected times and in the most unimagined ways. One year I experienced it when we stumbled on to the public lighting ceremony of a Menorah; another year it happened when the entire family joined hands around the dinner table. One year I experienced holiday magic while I sat alone in the cold waiting for a tow truck. Whenever that moment happens for you, stop and enjoy it.