DECEMBER- MONTH OF FUN AND STRESS-SOME STRATEGIES

Even though the festive season can be lots of fun, it comes with lots of stress. Especially for families with young children. Home and school events along with lessons are packed in there. So December is here so everyone need to take a deep breath and revamp the lists and things to do. Like any other time, one day at a time. Enjoying the events of the season and trying to reduce the stress comes with stress strategies.
#1 Recognize it can be stressful
#2 What makes it stressful for you. List the things.
#3 Can you divide the work? example, family meals, everyone brings a dish!
#4 Reduce the running around for gifts with a clear plan. example, only go to 3 stores at a time, shop online, use gift cards.
#5 Take an evening off by watching a movie. If you can not sit still, wrap or write cards, letters or emails  while watching the movie.
# 6 When taking the toy to the toy drive or food to the food bank, give a lesson to the children about why you are doing this activity.
#7 Stop and do some creative activities for yourself or others. It could be as simple as a nice dish of mixed pine cones with a ribbon on top. A dish with some coloured balls! Or the proverbial cookies or Gingerbread house ( they come nicely boxed and easy to make).
#8 Keep some exercise or activity going to help with the overeating and drinking that may occur. Example, a walk hand in hand with a loved one on a snowy street to recapture the feeling of childhood. O course try not to overeat or drink, like that is easy.
#9 Take a deep breath or many deep breaths.
#10 Rest and not too many late nights. Sleep keeps us going.
#11 Say no to some events or activities.
#12 Remember the true meaning of the Christmas season- go to church often, read the story or find the chapters in the Bible.
So the twelve stresses for today. There could be more but it is only the beginning of the month. Perhaps you have your own ways to cope with the stress of the season. Would love to hear about them!

HAPPY DECEMBER EVERYONE!

NANA SAYS SHARE THE LOAD IN THIS BUSY FESTIVE SEASON

The Christmas season brings so much pressure and stress to take in as much as possible. Shopping, parties, gift wrapping, house decorating and even several parades. Dragging children-young and old around malls shopping can be reduced by leaving them at home with the other spouse or using people- like Nanas in your life. Leave them with a friend so you can reciprocate and babysit the other children to give that parent a chance to shop. Baking groups-if you still bake- make several dozens of one kind of cookies or squares and the group does the same sharing with you. These modern times bring so much online shopping. So after putting the little ones to bed, go to the computer and shop. Even this Nana has used the new way at least 3 times this season. Being on email newsletters and flyers bring the deals to your home. Not interested just delete. Decide what is really important- so planning and more planning. Most young parents I know already have those Christmas pictures done for Christmas cards! So not procrastinating really helps!
Many places have gift wrapping services for a fee and often to a charity! Advise the stressed person in your life to take advantage of this service! Back to children- create magical moments by having a home with things to touch, seasonal books to read and a creative corner. Gingerbread house kits are a fun project to do together. My house includes my big touchable items. The little breakable ones are not displayed so the house can be enjoyed by my grandchildren. Besides there is less dusting! Share the load! Family dinner and parties can be the pot luck fun! In some cultures, there has to be one superhero trying to cook for 40! Advise the person times have changed and everyone can bring a dish! Nothing worse than the huffing and puffing of the stressed cook! So make your own list of how to share the load! If the load is just too heavy then decide what is really important and put the rest aside! What are your strategies for this wonderful, festive season? Do you have a Nana in your life? Or even a grandpa or a papa to help? If not come on by and I'll help you out!

CHE SERA, SERA!

Whatever will be, will be! Was a favourite song from the 1950's! I find myself singing it alot lately in light of the current events in my life. Or I find myself saying aloud to others- it will be what it will be! Some events are simple- set a date and make plans. Other events keep us in limbo! Try to be prepared as best one can under the circumstances! The stress of the unknown can be overwhelming at times. So using the standard strategies of getting through a hard time- sleep, eat nutritionally, less is more, slow down and take time to do the tasks at hand! Reach out and hug someone! How do you deal with stress when facing the unknown? Or do you find yourself singing Che sera, sera!!