Christmas at its Best

Many people who did not have good Christmas season experiences as children have carried these feelings over into adulthood. But for many young children, the lead up to Christmas can be a very exciting and magical time as they imagine Santa working with his elves before making his long trip to deliver gifts around the world. How can we make the Christmas season a happy occasion for all of our children?

As parents, our attitudes will determine the success of the Christmas season for our offspring. The most important rule in my opinion is to keep it simple. Many of the things that we have on our lists don’t really have to be done in order for Christmas to be successful. The following are some ideas to simplify the Christmas season:

- Try sending e-cards to friends and family instead of mailing out regular Christmas
cards. This not only saves time but money as well because there will be no need
to purchase either cards or postage.
- Shop early. By beginning to shop for the next Christmas at the Boxing Day sales will
eliminate the last minute shopping frenzy. It also spreads the expense of Christmas gift
buying over the entire year.
- Bake ahead and freeze the treats so there is no last minute rush to get all the baking done.
- And try to remain calm and relatively stress-free so that you may enjoy the Christmas
season with your children.

Christmas is for children. There are many things we can do with our children to make their memories of Christmases past good ones; filled with the many things they enjoyed that they’ll want to pass along to their own children. The following are some ideas of things we can do:

- Help them write a letter to Santa and ensure that they receive an answer.
- Let your children help you decorate the Christmas tree. Our trees don’t have to be show
home creations designed to impress our neighbors and friends – Christmas is for families.
- Let the children help to make and decorate some special Christmas cookies; most love to mix
and break eggs. A little mess is not a big problem when compared with the enjoyment
children get from being able to help. This year we made eggnog cookies decorated with
candies.
- Have an advent calendar.
- Take your child to a homeless shelter so they are able to get a better perspective on
Christmas. Have him/her bring a cash donation/food/or something warm to leave for a
homeless person.
- Let your child be part of the whole Christmas experience including helping to buy gifts for a
special aunt or uncle. I took my six year old grandson along with me to buy a few things and
purchased a couple of the items that he suggested. (I hope he was right).

As parents I think we should remember that children don’t need a lot of gifts. They will become overwhelmed and desensitized with the amount; especially if they are also receiving gifts from aunts and uncles and other extended family members. One or two special gifts will be sufficient in making children happy. And for young children especially, gifts do not need to be expensive. Also, children really don’t expect to get everything they ask for on their list.

If we want our children to look back on the Christmases of their childhood with fond memories, it will be up to us as parents, and grandparents, to make those memories as happy as possible. I think the bottom line is that if we remain calm and stress-free, so shall our children be. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.