HANDLING THE STRESS OF CHRISTMAS AND FAMILY TIMES

Christmas with all its magic and fun and good cheers can bring lots of family time. Family time together can bring up old issues and children fighting. "He got one more present than I did- that's not fair!!!" Cooking an amazing dinner then someone to turns his nose up at the food. How to keep the magic and peace and love in our hearts when others around us are not!!  Giving space to each other really helps. Try to find quiet moments in the day over the next few days. If children can have some outdoor time to get fresh air, well go for it. Even for oneself to be in fresh air enjoying the winter time may be helpful too. Having the grandchildren for two days and two sleepovers inside a house is a huge reminder of how long a day can be! Trying to keep the peace!!  Being together means tolerating all the personalities. Others have to tolerate mine too! Try to stay away from politics and touchy matters for Christmas day. I remember one Christmas dinner with my folks and the politics of the country that was discussed at every family dinner surfaced with my friends who were Christmas guests. Very annoying! So try to watch another Christmas movie together or play a board game or cards or something that makes the Christmas day special. Children will be noisy and excited. No more threat of Santa is watching you have to be good!! Taking time for those phone calls with loved ones. Maybe make them on Christmas Eve to be a head of the game. I find nothing more annoying than just as we sit down to dinner, the phone rings and need to take time to talk to a loved one. So if made earlier in the day or the day previously than there is real time to discuss something and be happy to talk. One Christmas a relative of my husband showed up and we tried to ask him to eat with us. We had to delay dinner by an hour so the food was not hot when we finally sat down to eat. So if you do show up at some one's house sit down to the meal if asked because they may have been ready to eat as you arrived!! Christmas talks can be short and sweet and to the point. If long conversations are needed, try a long chat in the New Year when there is so much less to do. Try to keep the focus that family together creates memories to last. Making them good and happy ones does take effort. Understanding that being together for long periods needs breaks. So retreating for a quick nap or playing on the computer or sitting outside for a cigar or cigarette and putting some spaces between each other are good things to consider. Knowing when one's level of patience is over really helps!!