How Much Longer?

It’s that time of the year again. Your schedule is full and running over with preparations for the Christmas holidays, and you are still busy with cleanup after Thanksgiving! What to do with all the leftover turkey, taking down the fall decorations to make room for the tree and all the trimmings, addressing those beautiful cards, shopping, responding to invitations to parties…the list goes on and on.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed when you add to that mix a partner, church and civic commitments, cooking, cleaning, decorating, a full-time job, and a baby, toddler, or preschooler. Allow me, if you will, to help you get a handle on some of those stressors.

Make a list: Write down everything you can think of that needs to be done. Once your responsibilities and commitments are on paper, it will free your mind to concentrate on getting it all done instead of worrying that you may be forgetting something. Place the completed list where you can easily access it. You may even benefit from making two copies so one can be on the refrigerator and another in your purse.

Prioritize: Prayerfully decide where your priorities lie. Once you know which ones are most important to you, place those things at the top of your list. When there are dates and/or times attached to a commitment, place those beside it. Add those to your calendar if you keep one.

Check it off: Nothing will encourage you much more than seeing the things on your list get checked off. As your list grows shorter, you will be able to relax more often and take a few minutes here and there for yourself. Read a short article you found in a magazine, catch up with your social networking, or put your feet up and enjoy a cup of hot tea.

In all the hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season, it’s easy to forget that your little one is an important part of the season. He feels your tension and the lack of attention to him, and will begin acting out to get things to a place where he feels more a part of the goings on.

It may ean that you add him to your “list.” Not that you would ever forget that you have a child, but to remind you to plan activities to keep him entertained and happy so he doesn’t have to get your attention in negative ways. Tuck away several books on his age/developmental level that tell the Christmas Story as well as some secular ones. When you are the busiest, you do yourself and him a huge favor to take a 10-minute break to share a book.

Have a few crayons and blank paper, several small containers of play dough in different colors, a small toy from a cereal box you tucked away, etc., to keep him occupied while you are busy in the kitchen. Chat with him as he colors. You may even suggest that an older preschooler draw his interpretation of the Christmas Story. Use the pictures he draws as place mats, or wrapping paper on small gifts to family and friends.

Make a paper chain with 24 links that you can use to show him how many days before Jesus’ birthday as you remove a link each night at bedtime. When he asks for the hundredth time how long before Santa comes, remind him to check the chain. Christmas is a wonderful time of giving, sharing, joy, hope, love, and PEACE. Be sure your home contains lots of each. Happy Parenting! God bless.