It seems like as soon as September bows out with a final wheeze of pollen and smattering of sneezes, October rushes in, and the holidays tumble in after an ever-quickening tide. We, as parents, are left scrambling to keep our feet, remember every detail, find the perfect presents in an economy gone haywire, and move the darned elf from shelf to shelf.
This holiday season is proving to be just as full as the ones before, and I find myself floundering. I keep wondering if there is another way to approach the season that helps slow it all down, to focus on the joy and beauty.
As I scramble to plan birthdays, one of which is the week before Christmas, holiday meals, school parties, and Christmas presents, let me share some of my attempts at maintaining sanity:
Idea #1: Start shopping early…nope, even earlier.
This year was not the year that I followed my own advice, and I regret it. I stumbled upon the perfect holiday present gathering technique a few years ago. I decided one summer that I would buy a Christmas present whenever I was at a special event, festival, fair, or a homemade-item boutique. I collected presents throughout the summer and fall, much like a particularly clever squirrel and a few specialty nuts.
By the time Christmas rolled around, I had everything, including stocking stuffers, and felt little to no pressure. I didn’t end up frantically ordering on Amazon or supporting big-box stores; I mainly found handmade items that I thought my family could really use and would enjoy. Although it is not early, I suggest looking around for any of the markets that pop up during this season, where you can find a wide variety of goods, most of them locally made or sourced.
Places to look when you’ve forgotten to start early:
Idea #2 Keep those meals simple.
When it comes to meal planning for this season, I tend to start producing larger portions of each meal I make and freeze some of it for later use. Monday and Thursday are my cooking days, where I have the time to make a stew, lasagna, a batch of spaghetti sauce, or some other concoction I’ve managed to put together. I separate leftovers into containers sized for feeding our crew. I’ve decided that glass-bottomed containers are now my favorite storage solution because I can take them from the freezer to the oven without having to let them thaw out. Simply put it in the oven as the oven preheats, and the glass doesn’t seem to mind it.
I also try to think about what is easiest for lunches for myself and the kids; this is where homemade “Lunchables” come in handy. A serving of fruit, a few carrots, some cheese, pepperoni, crackers, and a sweet treat make for an easy, fast lunch!
Idea #3: Take time to breathe and enjoy.
It’s crucial for us, as parents, to not lose ourselves in the panic of the season. There is joy, beauty, and fun to be had, not just for our kids. So, I encourage you to take a moment to breathe. Find something around you that is beautiful (a stunningly yellow ginkgo leaf, a perfect cloud, your child’s happy face), hold that image in your mind, and breathe in and out until you let the quiet settle inside you. Keep breathing until your chest no longer feels tight and your brain isn’t frantically checking tasks off its list. Then, pick back up where you left off with the ability to appreciate the moments and magic of the season around you.
All in all, this season, take your time where you can and find joy when you can!
