Peaceful Moments

With just two days to go before Christmas, you may find yourself a bit stressed out. Perhaps you’re running out for last-minute gifts and wrapping paper, or planning your brunch and dinner menus (shoot, I forgot to do that!). Are you the type who waits until Christmas Eve to do all the wrapping of the presents? If you are, might I suggest that as soon as you finish reading this post that you gather up all your wrapping artillery and DO IT NOW.

Don’t spend Christmas Eve locked up in a bedroom wrapping gifts like my mom did every year. She would emerge frustrated and exhausted at 11 p.m. And we would have been upset too, because we didn’t get to spend the evening with our mom. That was no fun.

Even though there’s only two days left before Christmas, make the most of these 48 hours and get the stuff done that has to be done NOW so that you can relax and enjoy your family on Christmas Day. Be PRESENT when it’s important to be there. Be peaceful on Christmas Eve. Watch the next day as your children delight in the morning’s activities. Are there casseroles and desserts you can prepare ahead of time? Can you really wrap gifts now and be done with it? Can you skip some of the fanfare that you always do because you think everyone enjoys it but it takes YOU away from the fun? Think about the special moments that make you a part of the family. Be there when it matters this week.

Find the peaceful moments, create the memories that your children will cherish this holiday season, and honor the time you have with your family. Because all too soon, they will have families of their own and they will be creating their own family traditions and moments. Make memories and traditions now… ones that your children will want to replicate with their own families someday!

About the Author:

Stephanie Elliot, in no particular order, is a wife, writer, blogger, book reviewer, editor and mother to three kids, two who have already been tweens, and one who is right smack in the middle of his tween-ness. Her oldest son is almost driving and her daughter survived her tween years so Stephanie must be doing something right. Find out more at http://stephanieelliot.com