As we approach Thanksgiving and then the end of the year holidays, do you
experience stress? Do you get tired of being pulled in all directions? Are
you dreading eating pumpkin pie and cookies in too many different homes?
Too many times I hear the same story: "I have to traipse my whole family
first to my family's home and then to his family's home. It's exhausting!"
If you're a blended family, you may have even more homes to visit. Or
perhaps you are the one having people traipse in and out of your house all
day.
How do we stop all the madness?
- Put your foot down!
- Take control of your time. Say NO if you need to.
- Keep each day simple, fun and meaningful and perhaps even begin your own
holiday traditions, so you can spend quality time with your loved ones.
- If you're going somewhere, take charge of what food you're comfortable
bringing and at what time you're comfortable getting there. If guests are
coming to your home, ask how each person would like to be involved -- such
as bringing a particular dish or doing a certain job to prepare for the
day.
- If you tell yourself and other people what you CAN do, you have just taken
charge of that situation.
Think about what the purpose of the Thanksgiving holiday is: to spend time
with your family and friends giving thanks for everything you've received.
Thanksgiving is not just about getting together for good food, football or
after -Thanksgiving- sales. Identify some new goals for the holidays: such
as less stress and more time with family as a result of fewer visits away
from home or fewer visitors, simpler meals, less cooking or cleanup, and so
on.
Then have a meeting in person with your family and describe your ideas and
new holiday plans. Ask what everyone thinks and then make a list of your
holiday goals. Or, just explain your new plans and let whomever wishes be
involved.
Some suggestions for simplifying different holiday situations:
Idea #1
For those of you who have to do the traipsing, call each homes and ask if
you can bring a particular item or food dish. Try to bring the same dish to
every home you visit -- this will help make the traipsing easier. Say that
you can arrive at approximately ____ a.m./p.m. and stay until ___a.m./p.m.
since you also have 2 or 3 etc. other places you need to get to that day.
Idea #2
If you have visitors coming to your home:
Mail a list of foods to bring or some other form of involvement for
everyone invited, and then call each person to identify their item on the
list. Here is what one of my letters might look like...
Dear Family and Friends,
For all of us to have a great day to give thanks, please sign up for at
least one of the items listed below. All food items need to feed 14 people.
I will call you by November ___(date) to identify your item on the list:
Cranberry Sauce
Pumpkin Pie
Stuffing
Salad
Vegetable
Ice Cream
Coffee and condiments to go with it
Clean up after meal
Make and serve coffee
If you have old photos of family or friends that you think would be
interesting to everyone else, please bring them. We will eat around 4:00PM.
Blessings and Love, Susie
Idea #3
When you have company in your home, make a list for each immediate family
member to sign up. My list might look like this...
Vacuum
Dust
Clean Bathrooms
Mop floor
Empty all trash cans
Put kleenex in every room
Make sure all toilet paper rolls are full
Put fresh hand towels in all bathrooms and kitchen
Sweep out front walkways
Set table with ______ dishes (everyone has certain dishes they like used
on the holidays)
Go shopping
Often a list of assigned or chosen chores will allow family members to take
pride in what they are doing.
Idea #4
Or, instead of sending out a letter and list, call all invited parties and
tell them food items and chores you need help with. Ask each person whether
they would like to bring a food, or help set up, or clean up. Right then
and there, identify what dish each person will bring or what job they want
to do. Next, send out postcards stating something like this...
Dear ________,
Thank you so much for committing to bring cranberry sauce to
Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 25th. I can't wait to see you
around 4:00PM!
Love, Susie
There's not much room for error here.
Idea #5
The extreme opposite is what we are doing this year. Our family decided to
go to a Thanksgiving Family Camp. I actually got to have Thanksgiving
Dinner and not cook or clean it up. At the same time, I got a chance to be
thankful with my immediate family in beautiful, PEACEFUL surroundings.
Now apply this article to Hanukkah, Christmas, etc... and "TAKE CHARGE OF
YOUR HOLIDAYS"!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
The Busy Woman's Daily Planner, is an organizing haven,
where Busy Women help meet the needs of Busy Women with daily planners, purses and other organizing
products designed mostly by women for women.
Susie Glennan is a wife of 18 years, mom to 3, Home Maker, budding author and owner of The Busy
Woman's Daily Planner.
if you have any questions or comments!