Finding Peace in the Midst of Holiday Chaos
5:30am is when I found my kids standing next to my bed rubbing the sleep from their little eyes. I knew I was supposed to be appreciating these moments as one day they would be off and on their own and I would miss it but most days, I would just wish they would sleep in for 30 more minutes because I was so tired. I knew that once my feet hit the floor, the day’s busyness would begin. Add the holiday stressfulness and it would send me straight in to feeling overwhelmed. I knew I had to do something different to survive because the holidays were not enjoyable for this tired, working mom.
Here are 5 changes I made that helped me get back to the joy of the season!
Zone decorating
I stopped pulling everything out the attic at one time and expecting everyone to participate in the “fun.” I organized my decorations into zones and only brought 1 or 2 boxes down a day that I could handle myself.
2. Family calendar
I started using the Cozi app for a family calendar and grocery list so that my husband (and eventually my children when they got phones) could see all events, add groceries to the list and they even had a place where the Christmas wish lists could be made. My family was responsible for adding their own events. My rule was “if it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t exist.” It put a lot of the responsibilities on their plate. I didn’t have to do it all!
3. Minimize time wasters
No matter how tired I was at night after kids’ soccer practice and late dinners, I made sure our evening routines were done before we went to bed. Keys, purse, backpacks, lunches were ready to go. Clothes were out the night before eliminating the “What am I going to wear?” time sucking thought process. I didn’t allow myself to get on social media because I knew it was a rabbit hole that I may not come out of until midnight. I became very picky about where I spent my time. I learned to say no because I also learned that time is precious.
4. Minimize the number of toys children have access to
Let’s be honest, kids will not clean up after themselves unless you make them. I don’t care how organized your playroom is, they hate cleaning up and just won’t do it on their own. When toys were left out, I quickly apologized to my child for trusting them with a toy that they obviously were too young to handle because it wasn’t cleaned up and put away. (A technique I learned from the book Love and Logic-best parenting book out there in my opinion.) That toy was put on a high shelf, and they quickly realized the consequences of not putting away their things.
5. Learn to be still
This is a really hard one for me because I am an Enneagram 7-the adventurer! I don’t do still! But I did. I carved out time for the kids and I to have hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies 1 or 2 times a week. I made plans for dad to take the kids to do things so I could get presents bought and wrapped. (The holiday season also coincides with hunting season so we Southern hunting wives have a whole different holiday battle happening!) I delegated the online Christmas shopping to be done by my husband (yes, I sent him the list!) I also carved in time that I could catch my breath with a walk, a bath, or an activity that was sans kids. It’s not selfish, it’s self-care.
Being organized was extremely helpful overall because it allowed my family to know where groceries went when they came inside. They knew where items coming out of the dishwasher went in the cabinet or drawer. With everything having a home, the piles on the counter could be delegated and put away by each member of our family. It wasn’t all on my shoulders. Being organized helped me find peace in the holiday. I hope these tips help you find some too.
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