Egg Rolls for Christmas (or How to Have Happier
Holidays)
For many of us, the holiday season
stirs within us a mixture of emotions. We remember the holidays of our childhood
with either a longing to re-create them or with sadness for how they
disappointed us. As parents, we wish to make the holiday season a magical,
unforgettable experience for our children filled with memories that they will
always cherish. While our intentions are noble, too often we get so caught up in
trying to make the “perfect holiday season” that we end up making ourselves and
everyone else miserable in the process. So how do we enjoy a holiday season
without the stress that tends to accompany this time of
year?
Lower Your
Expectations
Planning the “perfect holiday” puts
too much pressure on us to be able to enjoy the season. Let’s aim to have a
joyous, fun holiday season with our families without worrying about having the
perfectly decorated house, the perfect holiday party, or finding the perfect
gift for everyone on our list. Perfectionism creates stress, so we must let it
go.
Create New
Traditions
If you are still hanging on to any
traditions that you don’t enjoy, it is time to stop. Keep the ones you love, and
create new ones to enjoy with your family. Several years ago, my mother-in-law
decided that since there were only six of us eating Christmas dinner, she did
not want to cook a huge fancy meal. We were watching “A Christmas Story” and the
family ends up eating Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant so she cooked egg
rolls for us. We thought it was quite funny and now we look forward to our
“untraditional” Christmas dinner each year. Your traditions can be anything you
want, just as long as your family enjoys
them.
Remember the
Reason
Whichever holiday you celebrate this season, focus on the
true meaning of it. Gifts, decorations, food, and parties are all fun, but the
season becomes much more meaningful when you remember why you are celebrating in
the first place and what the holiday really means to you and your family. Happy
Holidays!
Copyright 2004-2009 Tamara Walker, R.N. All Rights Reserved.
May be used only with author's permission.