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Post by ReneeW on Dec 3, 2013 16:25:58 GMT -6
Hi Ladies! At a moms' group today, there was a lot of "Yikes so much to do, the holidays are stressing me out!" talk. And it got me thinking about strategies for keeping sane over the holidays. Do you cut back on certain activities? Have any advice for ladies going crazy with busy-ness?
Both of my kiddos have birthdays this month so I really am going a bit nuts. Any idea you have would be a huge help! Thanks.
For me, I will maybe make one or two batches of Christmas cookies, that's it. I'm not going all out with baking. I also try to get my shopping done by the middle of the month so that I can wrap things in advance and not be stressing out last minute. I delegate to DH what I can, and we have one big shopping outing that we do together during the week when stores are less crowded and try to get as much done as possible. Plus it's a fun little day date and we get to spend time together.
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Post by sarahisis on Dec 3, 2013 16:40:04 GMT -6
I make lists, prioritize, and don't overbook... I am not doing Christmas cards this year, so that gives me back a little more time! My cookie recipe is easy and will make a couple batches, along with fudge and peppermint bark as gifts for the fam. I'm doing something a little different this year for parent (grandparents) gifts... Going to get a journal and pen for each set and from each kid so they can write and send back and forth and then when its full, the kids will have letters from their grandparents
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Post by dara1012 on Dec 3, 2013 21:15:18 GMT -6
I empathize with you. In addition to family expectations for holidays I have a party for each of the sites I supervise (I have 8 in total) that are evenings or weekends starting this Thursday and ending in early January.
We limit gift giving. I buy gifts for DH, DS (plus Santa), our niece and nephews (3 kids), and DH's mom and stepdad, & DH's stepbrother's girlfriend's son. My extended family writes checks for charity and I make 1 calendar that I print 3 times for the grandparents. This cuts down on shopping and wrapping. We decided among my siblings/parents and DH's stepbrothers and his dad/stepmom that we don't need to get each other anything and should just focus on time together. I do have to get my employees gifts, but build that into the work day.
I do most of my shopping online (we have Amazon Prime and Target Red card for free shipping --- also LLBean has great gifts and free shipping).
I barely bake anything....I'll make Oreo balls to take to DH's stepdad's family gathering. We get so many treats elsewhere there is no need for more.
We spread out celebrations over so many weeks, which can make it seem forever but not so hectic in each moment. We rotate whose family we go to. This year is DH's side, since his parents are divorced and his dad's family and stepdad's family are celebrating opposite weekends we will travel to both, but we are waiting until January to be with my family. This year it will be just the 3 of us on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day and I am taking that whole week off of work.
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Post by deannemdm on Dec 4, 2013 8:28:02 GMT -6
For my brother and sister and their spouses and sometimes m parents we get a gift card for $25 and something small (ornament, candy, etc) and we play a dice game so what you get is more or less genderless--- Target, FLeet Farm, Cub, resaurants, movie theaters, etc. We get things for my folks and neices and nephews (ones in school yet). SO neices and nephews on both sides can be a lot, plus our two kids from us and Santa, and spouse. I do pretty minimal decorating- tree, pine-like garland above a window, nativity scene and stockings up. I bought sugar cookies mix and want to do that with the kids. We did that a few years when DS was small (and had neighbor kids too) and I want to do it for DS too at least for a few years.
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Post by ladyandrearose on Dec 4, 2013 18:38:46 GMT -6
I decided that I will not stress out. I am not going to put any expectations on myself for the season. I will appreciate what I can get done and refuse to feel guilty about what I can't get done. If we don't get to bake cookies, oh well. I'm going to be very grateful that I don't have to work Christmas Day for a change.
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