Best Christmas...Ever!

Best Christmas Ever … with Kids!

The best Christmas ever is possible and best of all, it can be celebrated with our kids! Did you know that the holidays are what we make of them, and often we are interested in the outer wrappings that we forget the heart of our child! I learned this the hard way one Christmas when I was in the midst of homeschooling and trying to prepare for the Gerwitz-Family-overload-Christmas bash! I way overbought presents and I ended up hiring my daughter’s college friend to wrap for me. She loved it (who wouldn’t enjoy making some extra cash at Christmas?) but I realized I was doing Christmas all wrong.

The emphasis was not the real reason for the season, no the emphasis was on the kids getting presents, most they didn’t even ask for. I realized five things that year.

Best Christmas Ever – Does Not Require:

Kids do not need to allot of presents to enjoy Christmas.
The emphasis on Christmas was not on Christ.
I was exhausted and frustrated.
No one was having fun – and everyone was stressed.
We would never do *this again!

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So I asked the kids what they wanted to do to celebrate Christmas and the Christmas break we would take from homeschooling and this was their list!

Best Christmas Ever Kids List:

Spend time with friends.
Go to the park.
Do crafts.
Make Christmas presents.
Bake cookies.

Wow, nothing on that list that is far-fetched or difficult to do! And, these were all of my favorites as well. We took things easy, we spent the mornings reading books that were focused on the real reason for the season, we added some things like works of service. We selected angel tree gifts to make or give. The kids did a combination of both and selected kids their ages using their own money to buy gifts and wrap them. It turned my stressed filled season into something that was so much better. We played games, we played Christmas songs 24-7 and we watched some beloved Christmas movies such as the Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, and some other oldies. (This was before the 24/7 Hallmark Christmas specials!)

The children got so much more out of the season than I even expected. And, I learned something about myself as well. It was okay to say no to the things I didn’t want to do. While I loved baking I realized I did not have to bake for half of my city or mail cookies to families that baked as well! I could give some Christmas cookies as gifts to go for the family that visited, but that was it! I also learned I did not like sending out 100s of Christmas cards. So, I paired down my list to essential family members and that was all I sent out and that also was such a blessing for me!

Here is my advice:

Ask your kids what they want to do to celebrate Christmas.
Cut out anything that is stressful such as baking, cards, or crafts.
Enjoy time with family and friends.
Read and enjoy time with your children.
Make your own Christmas memories as a family.

Let’s face it having matching jammies is fun for Christmas morning but if it doesn’t bring the entire family joy, let it go! What are ways that you celebrate Christmas that are joyful?

Felice Gerwitz is a serial entrepreneur and she and her husband own and run three businesses, one is Media Angels, Inc. a company she started in 1995, she also began this Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network eight years ago to bring home schoolers and parents free podcasts! Visit Felice’s podcast’s at Vintage Homeschool Moms and A Few Minutes with God Podcast.