A Less Stressed Christmas
by Kerry
I’m thinking about Christmas! I know, it’s July. But I’m attempting to simplify and that means planning ahead.
With each passing December I hear more people declare that their seasonal stress level has hit its max. I know, for myself and my family, if I’m stressing over Christmas I’m missing the point. We have scaled back bits and pieces of unnecessary holiday madness for the last several years. And I love it.
Many homes have moved to the extreme of no gift giving (I feel funny saying that’s “extreme” but in our culture it is!)…
Simply, they celebrate Christ’s birth.
Shocking, isn’t it? I was talking on the phone with a dear friend of ours last season and in the middle of our conversation she made sure to tell me: “We don’t do Christmas here, in our home. Just wanted to make sure you knew that. We don’t do gifts, any of that. So please don’t bring me anything. We believe in God sending His son for us and we focus on that. And we understand everyone does the holidays a little differently. And that’s okay for each person to choose how they want to celebrate. For us, we just don’t.”
I think she explained so much because she knew I might be a tad shocked. And I have to admit – I was!! And definitely speechless for several seconds after said explanation! She is the type of woman who is beloved by so many people she could easily be bombarded with gifts every year. So I understood tons of what she was conveying to me. Still caught by surprise, though.
I hesitantly told her I had a card for her – a picture card of our kids – and asked if that would be okay for me to still send? She said sure, she would love that. Phew! I didn’t completely offend!
Then I couldn’t help but think maybe she’s onto something. We add all the extra stress ourselves.
I can’t quite imagine eliminating Christmas in our home. But I am all for dropping the “hype” that surrounds it. The idea you most go broke if you’re going to make it a Christmas to remember. And the knock yourself out with baking overload. And so on and so on.
What’s YOUR opinion?
How do you handle holiday hullabaloo?
What do you focus most of your efforts toward to make Christmas more enjoyable? Or, perhaps more specifically, what have you cut out over the years? I know many friends of mine cut back on card giving over the years because of the sheer cost of stamps, let alone picture costs. I feel like we receive fewer cards each year – maybe a family/child picture. I totally understand this. It’s hard to think about spending so much money on cards that will most likely end up in the trash a few weeks later. I have to say – I miss the cards! Is that too hype-ish? I don’t know.
Do you have any tips for us, or traditions you can share, that make Christmastime less stressful for your family?
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*Check back in for a fun pre-Christmas giveaway coming soon!
Now don’t judge! It’s a gift with meaning. I enjoy gift giving, Christmas or not. ;)
That was an interesting article. May I suggest that we think about Christmas all year? When you are out & about, see what you think a loved one would like. Plus start making various gifts all during the year. By the time Dec comes every year, my gifts are all ready to be wrapped. I have not spent Dec shopping for gifts in many years thus more time to bake.
Yes, Frances! Thank you for mentioning this! I definitely believe in celebrating Christmas all year long. With planning spread over the months, crafting like you said, and celebrating that focus more than just over one month – this is more enjoyable and meaningful. So right. Thanks for your input!
Great insight. so proud of you dear daughter . mom
So sweet – Thanks mama! Love you
We have been cutting back on gift giving for the past few years on both sides of our family. (mine and hubby’s) We have also been doing something as a family for a charity each year. We plan ahead so it is not stressful once December comes around too! :)
I love the charity idea, too. Plan on talking about this in more detail soon. It’s so much of what the meaning of Christmas embodies.
I do love sending holiday cards! I send them every year. There is something about the hoopla of addressing envelopes, writing a personal note, and making the trip to the post office that prepares me for the season.
Yea! I’m glad someone else feels that way too! I have always loved the cards: the planning, the address updating, cute stamps, just the right pen – all of it. I think about that right after Christmas is over, I love card-creating THAT MUCH. ;) It puts me in that Christmas spirit, like you said.
I am all about keeping Christmas low key and focused on Christ. We’ve never gone all out so we don’t have to scale back much. But as our daughter gets a little older we are trying to figure out how to best help her understand the true meaning of Christmas instead of the commercialized version.
It is definitely more challenging the older they get to maintain their interest in the meaning and avoid the “gimmies” …
We definitely stick to making memories. We do give gifts, but it is a small part. I prefer to have a home rich in traditions that make the entire holiday season special!
What are some traditions you love to do with the kids? We’ve taken some from both sides of our families but like to create our own, as well.
My husband comes from a family that doesn’t really do gifts, and I come from a family that probably puts too much emphasis on gifts. So I think we just try to be as balanced as possible in our own family and make sure the focus is on Christ. I love everything about the holiday though – the baking, cooking, gift-giving, decorating…but you’re right; it should never be stressful. Both of my kids were born in the middle of the holidays, so I definitely learned how to slow down a little. :)
Yep! (to your last line especially!) …that would force anyone to slow down a bit :)
Thanks for the visit, Rachel!
Great post, Kerry. We have been facing the same thing for years. I have planted the seed that we could forgo all the gifts (or just get some small useful things) and go somewhere together. We all really enjoy being outside so I have been looking into renting a chalet in the mountains. I am looking forward to the memories that we will continue to make.
I think the trip idea is a SUPER one. We have vaguely discussed this in years past and would love to do this some December and see how the kids react/appreciate it. I think they’d love the idea! Thanks for your input, Ally!
What a clever idea that sand snow man is! I live on a coast, too. If I can remember, I’m going to attempt to make one of these. It will make so many people smile.
We’ve got lakes but no coast – I wish!
I LOVE Christmas and it’s the time of year I most look forward to. I’d like to say we’ve scaled back the gift giving in my family, but it’s still a major part of our holiday. Now that I’ve got kids of my own, giving them gifts brings me such joy. But we try to keep it under control. I know it’s different for every family.
Hi Brandy! It’s so much fun when your kids are having their first Christmases – and even when they’re older. Except the older they get the more careful you have to be that everything’s even/fair across the board (they keep track!). ;)