Finances, Travel, Overwhelmed…How to Enjoy the Holidays

Posted by Susan Epstein on November 18th, 2008 at 09:38pm

Can you believe that it’s that time of the year again?

  The Holidays can stir up all kinds  of feelings. Perhaps you are getting a bit excited in the planning of the next 6 weeks… or maybe you are putting it off because you are dreading all the hassles and stresses associated with the holidays with your kids.

Some common problems for families that I have worked with are:

• Financial problems-  you don’t have enough money to have the kind of holiday you want. Or knowing that you are going to spend too much money and the next 6 months you will have to pay it back and your credit cards will be more out of control than ever.
• Divorce/Separation- Who has the kids this year? And if you don’t have your kids, what are you doing?
•  Loss- it is the anniversary of the death a loved one and the whole idea of the holidays is completely depressing.
• Not being appreciated- it’s been a tough year and you feel you want to make it up to the kids and you make lots of plans and try to do fun stuff and the kids keep rolling their eyes and complaining “I don’t wanna go there or do that …it’s boring..it’s lame…whatever…!”
• Family Stress- having to make the rounds to all the grandparents and relatives and feeling completely wiped out and aggravated about the whole thing.
• Feeling Overwhelmed- wanting to change the way you celebrate the holidays, (scale down, or even take the family and go away somewhere warm). But you feel that you cannot break with tradition for fear of upsetting kids/relatives/etc.

 

  I want you to know that it is YOUR holiday season. You have a right to celebrate it any way you want to. You have a right to take it back and make it meaningful to you.

  So…

1. Make it fun (if it doesn’t feel fun, don’t do it)
2. Simplify (more is not better- more is more work)
3. Make a budget and stick to it (no resentment or guilt about what spent later on.)
4. Relax (build in down time and if you can take vacation, do it.)
5. Connect (talk to and spend time with your kids)

Wishing You a Peaceful Home and Peaceful Holiday Season,

Your Parent Coach,

Susan

860-437-0233 

P.S. If you haven’t seen my new site…have a look. www.ParentingPowers.com

P.P.S. Check out the new products…Especially The Cat Who Lost Its Meow…great book for kids of all ages.

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Tags: finances holiday, holiday stress, parenting, scaling down the holidays

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