Helping Holidays Happen for Families | BasicsMatter

Life happens every day. As Allyson Lewis would share, most of our decisions are made in less than seven seconds. ?Those decisions are made by the boundaries and values we have ingrained in our lives and thinking. Basics matter. Whether it is an ingredient in a cake, a decimal point in a mathematics problem, basics truly change the course of our lives. ?Going into the holiday season it is so easy to get busy and overlook the celebrations of the season. In our home we are focusing on making a calendar for the next month and a half of what activities and traditions are meaningful to our family. We asked our teenaged children and?cousins?their favorite parts of the Thanksgiving and Christmas season. Their answers will redirect what it is we focus on as a family. Isn?t that what holidays are about, creating memories with families. Below are some of the ideas our teenagers asked to continue or create this year:

• Christmas lights in Pajamas- one year long ago we loaded up the children in new pajamas (matching) and made a thermos of hot chocolate for in the car and took them driving (at that age to help them go to sleep in their carseats after a long day) At 16 and 19 though, that is a favorite memory and family relax time. We put on our comfy jammies and bundle up for a ride around our town to see the Christmas lights.
• A Cookie Bake Day-?the teens invite a friend over to bake a massive amount of cookie dough. In variations some families use slice and bake, others still buy sugar cookies from the bakery and simply decorate together. We make ours from scratch for allergy reasons and then bake one whole day and then decorate another morning and deliver cookie bags that afternoon. (another excuse to dress up for Christmas in something fun!)
• Chili Come and Go-?one year I was too busy to do a Christmas dinner for friends and decided to do a come and go chili open house. Now its a seasonal date night favorite on the first Friday night in December. The children feel free to have neighbors, friends,and their dates to come by and have a cup of chili and a grab a treat bag to go as they go on their way. ?A no stress no fuss crockpots time with bowls out for a come and go Christmas sharing.
• Family Christmas Tree Gathering??Our family may not always have time to be home all day to set up the decorations and tree, but we?ve learned to set up the tree with lights then have the children (teens) have their friends over to put on the decorations. The teens have had good times sharing 1-5 decorations with their friends while Mom and Dad provide as little interference as possible. We provide an easy casserole or egg nog and grab the camera for great action shots of the children with their friends!
• Wrap it Up ?Our children love to have a craft or baking party to give their friends a chance to make something to give to someone else. Some years it was a nursing home friend, other years we?ve made mom and dad gifts, or grandparents, Simple, inexpensive handmade Christmas gifts to share. Framed pictures, or cross stitch, or framed drawings, or baked goods. The present is made, wrapped, and tagged while they are with us. It?s a GREAT way to help other parents trade out time with you while you watch theirs and give a Christmas present in the way of time to do their shopping.
• Movie Day ?Our children love to have snuggle dates with movies they love as a family. We take a whole day ?mid season to slow down and simply watch our favorite old movies. It helps to add a candle or two to the mix and of course fun things like stringing popcorn for the tree while we watch!

There are so many great programs, plays, and opportunities for no money or low money to share as a family. Museums, local plays, music programs offer fun excuses to get out as a family and simply see the community. How often we forget how much the holidays are about reaching out to each other as families and friends and enjoying time together!

Source: http://basicsmatter.com/helping-holidays-happen-for-families/

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