Comments on: Christmas: What About Next Year? http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html On the Road to Joyful Motherhood Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:04:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jessica Fisher http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-83106 Jessica Fisher Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:36 +0000 http://lifeasmom.net/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-83106 The mental picture of those two strategies not mixing was hilarious! The mental picture of those two strategies not mixing was hilarious!

]]> By: Jessica Fisher http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-82910 Jessica Fisher Thu, 29 Dec 2011 19:39:56 +0000 http://lifeasmom.net/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-82910 It's so true. We have to let go of some good things to embrace other good things. It’s so true. We have to let go of some good things to embrace other good things.

]]> By: Catherine http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-82909 Catherine Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:36:59 +0000 http://lifeasmom.net/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-82909 I am very much a person to hang on to traditions. Also, as an only child, I've always been reluctant to let go of traditions that involve my aunt and her three kids and their families. That said, a few years ago, we finally moved our gift exchange with them from Christmas night (which included supper) to the Sunday before Christmas with a lots of finger foods. We kept Christmas supper and, though still chaotic, it was so much better on everyone including tired kids. This year, because of health issues with my mom, we kept the Sunday prior and cancelled the Christmas supper, to be revisited next year. My husband has advocated for this for years and I have to say that I enjoyed having a very laid back Christmas day, with no deadline for finishing opening gifts in order to finish cooking supper and get straightened up for company. We opened our gifts at a leisurely pace (which drove my mom crazy) and the kids got to play with each toy a little before moving on to the next present. It's hard to let go of tradition, but as I keep telling myself, we are creating new traditions and others have to learn to deal with it. Do what's best for you and your family! I am very much a person to hang on to traditions. Also, as an only child, I’ve always been reluctant to let go of traditions that involve my aunt and her three kids and their families. That said, a few years ago, we finally moved our gift exchange with them from Christmas night (which included supper) to the Sunday before Christmas with a lots of finger foods. We kept Christmas supper and, though still chaotic, it was so much better on everyone including tired kids.

This year, because of health issues with my mom, we kept the Sunday prior and cancelled the Christmas supper, to be revisited next year. My husband has advocated for this for years and I have to say that I enjoyed having a very laid back Christmas day, with no deadline for finishing opening gifts in order to finish cooking supper and get straightened up for company. We opened our gifts at a leisurely pace (which drove my mom crazy) and the kids got to play with each toy a little before moving on to the next present.

It’s hard to let go of tradition, but as I keep telling myself, we are creating new traditions and others have to learn to deal with it. Do what’s best for you and your family!

]]> By: Patti Reis http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-82887 Patti Reis Wed, 28 Dec 2011 18:16:10 +0000 http://lifeasmom.net/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-82887 We've had to rethink our gift-opening/spending time with grandparents strategy since we moved back to So Cal, my stepfather passed away (so my mom is flying solo) and then my mom moved back here too. We have my MIL an hour away and my mom 15 minutes away so they're both going to be permanent fixtures for Christmas (along with our siblings). We learned last year that we CANNOT have everyone show up at once and try to open everyone's gifts at the same time. My family's old tradition is to open each gift one at a time so everyone gets to see what everyone else gets. My husband's family puts their gifts in a pile and tears into them all at once (more or less). These strategies do NOT mix! So this year we had Christmas Eve at my mom's house, did our family's gifts then, then had my MIL and BIL show up in the morning before the rest, did their gifts, and then everyone was there for most of the day and we did dinner. Much better and everyone was happier. We are starting the new (for my family) tradition of just the kids and parents being here for Santa gifts in the morning. My mom and sister don't like that much, but it's the most fair all around. I'm curious if other people have relatives who complain when you don't do Christmas the way they think it should be done? We’ve had to rethink our gift-opening/spending time with grandparents strategy since we moved back to So Cal, my stepfather passed away (so my mom is flying solo) and then my mom moved back here too. We have my MIL an hour away and my mom 15 minutes away so they’re both going to be permanent fixtures for Christmas (along with our siblings). We learned last year that we CANNOT have everyone show up at once and try to open everyone’s gifts at the same time. My family’s old tradition is to open each gift one at a time so everyone gets to see what everyone else gets. My husband’s family puts their gifts in a pile and tears into them all at once (more or less). These strategies do NOT mix! So this year we had Christmas Eve at my mom’s house, did our family’s gifts then, then had my MIL and BIL show up in the morning before the rest, did their gifts, and then everyone was there for most of the day and we did dinner. Much better and everyone was happier. We are starting the new (for my family) tradition of just the kids and parents being here for Santa gifts in the morning. My mom and sister don’t like that much, but it’s the most fair all around. I’m curious if other people have relatives who complain when you don’t do Christmas the way they think it should be done?

]]> By: Christmas Memories to Last a Lifetime and a Handknit Stocking Giveaway — Life As Mom http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-29891 Christmas Memories to Last a Lifetime and a Handknit Stocking Giveaway — Life As Mom Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:59:04 +0000 http://lifeasmom.net/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-29891 [...] a big Rubbermaid tote that contains the ornaments they’ve received over the years. They love pulling out their boxes at holiday time and choosing ornaments to decorate the tree [...] [...] a big Rubbermaid tote that contains the ornaments they’ve received over the years. They love pulling out their boxes at holiday time and choosing ornaments to decorate the tree [...]

]]> By: Karen http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-9081 Karen Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:57:39 +0000 http://lifeasmom.net/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-9081 I weeded out many old decorations I did not want which made organizing a lot simpler. Might be trying the 3 gifts per person next year. I weeded out many old decorations I did not want which made organizing a lot simpler. Might be trying the 3 gifts per person next year.

]]> By: Susie http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-9074 Susie Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:20:08 +0000 http://lifeasmom.net/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-9074 More great tips! I personally LOVE the idea of an "idea file". I have one and it helps the planning process:-) More great tips! I personally LOVE the idea of an "idea file". I have one and it helps the planning process:-)

]]> By: Kathy http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-9073 Kathy Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:23:03 +0000 http://lifeasmom.net/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-9073 I read your site all of the time, but this is my first time commenting. I get so many good ideas here!<br /><br />This was our first Christmas with all 3 kids being more involved (they are 6, 2 and 1) and aware of what was going on. There were some things that we did that worked (like 3 gifts per child) and some that did not (opening all of the grandparent gifts at once...chaos!). I am writing up notes about what I would like to do the same next year and what I would like to do differently, and I am going to put them in my recipe binder so that I will see them next year. I am hoping that this will help me keep things simple and calmer next December. I read your site all of the time, but this is my first time commenting. I get so many good ideas here!

This was our first Christmas with all 3 kids being more involved (they are 6, 2 and 1) and aware of what was going on. There were some things that we did that worked (like 3 gifts per child) and some that did not (opening all of the grandparent gifts at once…chaos!). I am writing up notes about what I would like to do the same next year and what I would like to do differently, and I am going to put them in my recipe binder so that I will see them next year. I am hoping that this will help me keep things simple and calmer next December.

]]> By: Hoosier Homemade http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-9071 Hoosier Homemade Wed, 06 Jan 2010 04:36:05 +0000 http://lifeasmom.net/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-9071 Thanks for the shout out!<br />~Liz Thanks for the shout out!
~Liz

]]> By: Lynn http://lifeasmom.com/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-9066 Lynn Wed, 06 Jan 2010 01:31:47 +0000 http://lifeasmom.net/2010/01/christmas-what-about-next-year.html#comment-9066 Thanks for the links, FishMama. I just finished packing up all the decorations and stuffing them into our crawl space. I try hard to stuff toward the back those boxes I don't care as much about, and put toward the front some festive holiday plates and other items I know I'll want toward the beginning of the season. I also learned from hard experience to NOT store away the extra Christmas cards or the Advent candle as I'll want to get my hands on those EARLY. Off to check out your links now :) Thanks for the links, FishMama. I just finished packing up all the decorations and stuffing them into our crawl space. I try hard to stuff toward the back those boxes I don't care as much about, and put toward the front some festive holiday plates and other items I know I'll want toward the beginning of the season. I also learned from hard experience to NOT store away the extra Christmas cards or the Advent candle as I'll want to get my hands on those EARLY. Off to check out your links now :)

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