Handling the Holiday Hustle and Bustle - Parent’s Edition

When my children were younger, the holidays were both exciting and stressful at the same time. It took me years to find a balance for myself and my kids during the holiday season. I’ve recently hosted a few sessions on this topic on the Clubhouse App. I thought I’d share some of the tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the years.

Try to figure out what you can handle and what is too much. For example, how many holiday events per day do you feel comfortable attending? You may have to set some boundaries for yourself and your family. It’s fine to tell people you cannot make it to a celebration if it doesn’t fit into your schedule. 

Keep your kiddos’ routines as normal as possible during the holiday season. Maintaining consistent routines helps you and your family create balance. This may mean you have to leave early from a holiday party to get the kids to bed on time. This time of year is especially exciting and exhausting for children, so sticking to routines is a must.

I remember a time when my youngest daughter was about one. We were getting ready to head to a Christmas Eve party, so I woke her up to get her dressed. She was NOT having it. I would put an arm in the dress, and she would pull it right back out. She was kicking, screaming, crying, and refusing, while I continued to try to get her dressed. Frustrated, I left her room with the dress in-hand and summoned my husband to finish the task. Needless to say, he was not successful either. So off we went - hair uncombed, clad in a plain onesie (not the cute ruffled Christmas dress I purchased specifically for this event). 

When we arrived, I met my mother at the door and handed her the baby and the dress! Once we were there and my daughter was fully awake and calm, the dress was successfully put on and the party resumed just in time for Santa! 

In hindsight, it’s a hilarious story, but at the time I was trying so hard to be a great mom and have my children adorably dressed for the party. We had been in full holiday swing for several days in a row, so it’s no wonder everything didn’t work out perfectly. As I reflect now, it probably would have been better to allow her to wake at her own pace and on her normal schedule. The holiday hustle and bustle was getting to all of us. 

Here are a few more tips to ease holiday stress.

Balance the Calendar:

• Set boundaries on the number of events you will attend.
• Consider who you need to see and what you need to do. Let go of the rest.
• Keep family routines as normal as possible.
• Say “no” to events that create excessive stress.

Pre-Party/Holiday Preparation:

• Prepare the kids by sharing your expectations for their behavior at the event.
• Share with them ahead of time who will be at the event.
• Remind your children to use their manners during the meal and while opening gifts. 

     
During the Party:

• Keep your eyes on your kids to make sure they are behaving appropriately. 
• Engage your children in conversations. This is how they learn to communicate, so make sure you are modeling appropriate behaviors.
• Give your child time warnings before leaving the party. “In five more minutes we need to clean up and go home.”

    
After the Party:

• Ask your children about their experience at the party. What was the best part of the party? What food did they like best? How did you feel about the party?
• Help them wind down after the event. Go through their normal bedtime routine, read them a book, and tuck them into bed. 

What I have learned: The holidays do not have to be stressful. 

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