Stress Free Holidays

Stress-Free Holidays Episode 382 ~ with Denise Mira

Are you ready for stress-free holidays? With Thanksgiving, Christmas and even birthdays and all of the fun events that happen in full family life! The stress begins to mount. Join Felice Gerwitz and her friend, Denise Mira, you will learn so many insider’s tips!

Thanks to our sponsor A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

HOMESCHOOL bio: Denise Mira, author of No Ordinary Child: Unlocking the Leader Within Your Child, has been married to Gregory for 39 years. They are the parents of five extraordinary home-educated sons. Denise has traveled extensively, inspiring revolutionary change in households as she shares her impactful message for families. She is passionate about helping moms and dads raise No Ordinary Children! Find more inspiration and free tools for success at DeniseMira.com

Stress-Free Holidays

How do we focus on the real reason for the season! No matter what season it is. The fellowship, family, ministry instead of the details that seem to suck us under!

Set a budget-This doesn’t sound ‘spiritual’ at first, but it is massive as it immediately lessens the materialistic aspect. Families are spending 1/3 more than they take in every month in the US. Christmas spending is insanity. The stress and strain and clutter and marriage trouble over this one thing will destroy families. I begin with a list of people and a per-person amount for gifts especially as it adds up so quickly.
Ask adult children to just come celebrate – no gifts!
Cheap decor is abundant! Last year I seriously bought 95% of my decor at the Goodwill and Dollar Tree. No joke. All our stuff was in storage and I didn’t want to mess with digging after moving. It was the most beautiful decor we’ve ever had LOL tablecloths, arrangements, etc. etc. So peaceful. So easy.
Cookie baking days and Craft times – get supplies cheap, Good Will, etc. Ideas include Mason jar snow scenes with votive candles. Girls can bring their cookie dough and bake and talk and talk and talk and talk…
Christmas Puzzles, hot drinks, Christmas music – always have a table with a puzzle going, stuff for eggnog lattes and hot cocoa so when adults walk by it begs them to stop and pause and BE.
We never have a ‘family only’ We have always had strays who crawl into our hearts like lost puppies for seasons, sometimes years and we truly embrace them warts and all – there’s always room for one more, and I always have a gift for them – as simple as a coffee gift card, a candle, a cool mug, a beanie whatever but it’s a gesture of ‘you belong’ and we value YOU.
With young children we always took a night to load up the fifteen-passenger van, play Christmas music and find the best lights in town. We included our Pakistani neighbors too! I’ve begun to do this with my grands now.

Thank you to our Sponsor – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Movie!

Tom Hanks portrays Mister Rogers in A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, a timely story of kindness triumphing over cynicism, based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. After a jaded magazine writer (Emmy winner Matthew Rhys) is assigned a profile of Fred Rogers, he overcomes his skepticism, learning about kindness, love and forgiveness from America’s most beloved neighbor.

Click here to watch the trailer and find a theatre near you!