Whether you celebrate Hanukah, Christmas, or something else this month, these holidays are meant to bring light, joy, and peace into our lives. Some of our activities this time of year do just the opposite. Here are 5 DON’T Do’s (mostly from personal experience):
- Don’s traipse all over the biggest Christmas tree farm to cut down your perfect tree on the coldest, windiest day in December with a child who (unknown to you) has an ear infection.
- Don’t decide that on your 1 day off before the holiday (Christmas Eve) you will cook everything for your celebration from scratch.
- Don’t wander the stores after you have found a great gift because there might be one even better out there.
- Don’t stop at Toys R Us on your way home from work when you are tired and hungry and the rest of the world is there, too.
- Don’t get your kids all dressed up in uncomfortable clothes and stand in line for hours for a Christmas portrait.
Now, here are some DO’s
- Do throw perfection out the window.
- Do take a day off (before Christmas Eve), take the kids to day care, and spend the day however you choose – shopping, visit with a friend, wrapping, baking or curled up with a cup of tea and old Christmas movies.
- Do spend time with your kids in a relaxed atmosphere – baking, playing games, singing, reading, laughing.
- Do consider giving gifs of your time rather than “things”.
- Do make holiday portraits a fun, memorable experience for the whole family. Find a professional photographer who will take the time to make the experience fun, personal, and a reflection of your family.
