A Christmas to Remember

This is the time to decide what type of Christmas you want this year.  Thanksgiving is behind us and December hasn't started yet.  You are right on the cusp.... Which shall it be? The crazy-I'm-trying-to-cram-it-all-in-and-make-everyone-happy Christmas or the I-can't-do-it-all-so-I'm-going-to-do-what's-best-for-my-family Christmas?

My mom dreaded Christmas.  As a kid, I could not understand her Bah-Humbug attitude but then I became a mom and found that the job of Santa wasn't left to the magical realm of the North Pole, I AM SANTA! I have no elves; I have no helpers in red suits positioned at all of the malls. This lady gets to do it all and the man in the red suit gets all the credit.

Christmas is a wonderful time and there are so many things I enjoy about it but when you take a look at what we put on ourselves to accomplish in one month, it's nuttier than Uncle Walter's fruit cake. Take a look at the list that I've compiled over the years of doing my talks:

Plan gifts

Buy Gifts

Wrap Gifts

Ship Gifts

Family Pictures-clothes, location, perfect shot with everyone looking at the camera and smiling

Order pictures

Create family letter

Address envelopes

Stamp envelopes

Actually mail them

Husband's office party

Find dress for party

Get babysitter for party

Bake cookies

Attend cookie exchange

Parties: school, church, friends, neighborhood, family

Gift exchanges for moms groups, small groups, Bible study group

Cut down tree

Decorate house

Prepare for travel or prepare house for guests

Visit retirement homes

Caroling

Volunteer soup kitchen

Bake, bake, bake

Events: Christmas lights, train rides, visit Santa, Nutcracker

Charity gifts: angel tree, Operation Christmas Child

Christmas Eve service

Christmas service

Prep dinner

Kids performances

Stockings

Secret Santa

Advent wreath

Advent calendar

Ladies Brunch/Luncheon/Craft Fair

Letters to Santa

(And all the financial stress that comes with all of the above)

I'm sure there is more to add to the list, but you get the picture.  We try to get more done is this one month than we would EVER try to do in any other month.  How are we supposed to be good moms creating great memories when we are stressed out?

Let's start a revolution! Let's give ourselves permission to create the Christmas that we want for our families, letting go of all the things that we don't need or love doing?  I'll show you how. Step by step.  Each day this week I will address a different aspect of de-stressing our Christmas.  We'll cross things off of our to-do list, we'll make a plan, and we’ll implement traditions that support our family mission for Christmas.

You'll want to share this with your friends.  Please feel free to "share" through Facebook or forward this blog to their email.  

This is going to be the year you make Christmas better for you and your family!

Leave a comment about something that drives you crazy this time of year.