Surviving Christmas
10 tips to stress-free festivities
Christmas can be stressful, especially for us parents, the secret is plan, plan, and plan some more. So here are a few tips to help you through the chaos of the festive season.
1. Don't Overspend.
Spending money you don't have on credit and store cards or getting loans, is a sure fire way to make Christmas and most of the next year stressful. Also, it is useful to remember presents work on the '80/20 Rule'.
The kids will spend 80% of their time playing with 20% of their presents, so just invest in the gifts you know they really want and don't waste money on lots of little bits and bobs that just clutter up their bedrooms and playrooms gathering dust.
2. Write your Christmas cards early, my Aunty always writes her cards on December 1st. Then posts them by the 2nd. Also, it's a great idea to wrap presents early. My sister, Tricia, always wraps every present the day she buys them (and is very smug when she turns up on Christmas eve to find me burried under piles of gift wrap and ribbons).
3. Make a note of all the Christmas plays and concerts taking place on your calendar. Make sure that at least one parent shows up to each nativity play, carol singing or Christmas concert. If you need to, ask grandparents, aunties, friends etc. to provide a friendly face. Because if no one shows up for your child's big moment it can really hurt.
4. Don't go wild in the supermarket and over stock the kitchen. How long are the shops closed over Christmas nowadays?
Most supermarkets are only closed for one day. Make a list and stick to it. Plan meals if you can and just get a few little things in caseof unexpected visitors, you can get some great frozen party food now from most supermarkets, it's not too expensive and they don't go off.
Otherwise, you end up spending lots of money on food no one wants but everyone feels obliged to eat up and you end up piling on the pounds.
5. Never shop on Christmas Eve. Would you always go shopping for vegetables for Sunday lunch on the Saturday before? Brussels sprouts don't go off if you buy them a couple of days before Christmas.
6. Life isn't equal. Don't feel pressurised into spending exactly the same amount on every child in the family. If you buy one child just one expensive item, don't buy the others lots of small presents to equalise the cost, ask for a couple of things the children would like, as long as they get the present they asked for they won't be concerned with the cost.
7. Make sure you have supplies of any prescription items you may need and a bottle of Calpol. Most doctor's surgeries and chemists will be closed for a few days over the festive period.
8. Make sure you stock up on batteries. Or charge up plenty of rechargeable ones. Otherwise there will be lots of tears before bedtime.
9. Remember it doesn't have to be perfect. Is the rest of the year perfect? Far from it in most cases, the world will not stop turning if you burn the sprouts or forget the gravy on Christmas day. There will be plenty more Christmases and they seem to turn up quicker and quicker every year.
10. Your child will still love you whatever. Yes, even if you didn't get them this year's must-have toy. Just remember Christmas is about family and lots of fun so plan ahead and please, please enjoy.
