The Best Present is Your Presence!

11/30/2014

There is so much hype in regards to how much we should buy or not buy our families for Christmas. There is really a big push for minimization.

Talking with my families in recent weeks, I have come to the realization that more and more people have begun to cut back at Christmas for one of two reasons; their budgets does not allow for extravagance or their children have too much “stuff.” This is so true for most households! What surprises me the most is when I ask them what they have planned for Christmas? Almost every single person talked about being too busy.

This is the time of year when everyone seems to be in a hurry. Conversations are rushed, work meetings are rushed, and even our children our being rushed through their normal routines. You look at a people and they are saying “Merry Christmas,” but the smiles are not reaching their eyes.

I understand that Christmas is all about spending times as a family. But what happened to down time, and actually enjoying the holiday season. Our children deserve and require our presence. We need to take the time from all the hustle and bustle and just be!

Wouldn’t it be great if you had a pajama day on Christmas? An entire day spent in which you could just sit around and play with all the new toys that were just unwrapped or watch your favourite Christmas movies. Allow yourself to open the gifts and absorb the moment instead tearing the paper off the gift, and rushing to get to the next commitment.

Maybe Christmas day is not an option for you and your family, because you have other traditions that you are obligated to attend.

Just try it! Take an entire day, turn off the ringers on your phone, shut down the computers and spend the day as a family. Play board games, go outside and play in the snow or go for a walk. The idea is, whatever you do, you do as an entire family. There are no exceptions.  Create a special day that you and your children will look forward to for years to come! Start your own family traditions.

Wishing you a stress free holiday season. Remember to slow down, and just BE!