10 Uplifting Ideas for When the Holidays Are Less than Perfect

The holiday season brings about a lot of different emotions for me.  Some of great joy and peace,  and yet others of sorrow and frustration.  December was when my sister died and yet January was when my baby girl..now 10,  was born.

I can hardly believe that it’s almost Thanksgiving.  Time goes by so fast these days.  The leaves are almost all off of the trees and filling up our gutters.  I’m sad to see all of the beautiful colors fall to the ground.   That chill is in the air that says winter is just around the corner along with the Christmas season.

Since we are a blended family we don’t always get to have our own way when it comes to having everyone over at our house for the holidays.  Kids and grandchildren alike.  Our holidays are usually less than  “perfect”.

Over the years,  we have had to deal with blended family issues such as step children,  ex spouses,  family dis function,  alcoholism. You name it we’ve had to work through it during holiday time.  Maybe some of you have also.  I just wanted to share a few things that have brought us peace and joy during this season..whether things are “perfect” or not.

10 Uplifting Ideas for When the Holidays Are Less than Perfect

• Change your idea of what the  “perfect”  Thanksgiving or Christmas looks like.  We have really gotten a lot our ideas of what Thanksgiving and Christmas  “should”  look like from movies,  books,  magazine articles..media.
• Don’t compare your family to other families.  You do not know what the inner workings of a family really are unless you are IN the family or are very close to a family.
• If you are a blended family,   do not compete with the other parents Christmas gifts
• Do not lay guilt on your children  (whether they are young or older)  for wanting and sometimes needing to go to another family function,   rather than at your house.
• Accept your family just the way it is and embrace it.  Life is too short to be anxious over things that you cannot control..by the way don’t try to control it!
• Remember what the season is truly about,  Giving Thanks and celebrating the Birth of our Savior.  Focus on these things and get into Gods Word!
• Realize that one Thanksgiving or one Christmas does not define all future holidays.  I have found that we do something different every year.  Where do traditions come into this?  A lot of traditions do not actually have to be done right on the holiday date.  They can be celebrated or done before or after 🙂   It’s really ok!   You won’t be breaking any rules 🙂
• If you are struggling financially,   explain this to the kids,   they can take it..We have had several years when presents were small and inexpensive.  Kids remember the time together,  NOT what they got for Christmas one year.
• Allow and expect God to do miracles in your family and in your life..even when things seem bleak!
• Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit so that you may see Christmas in a different light this year.

These are just a few suggestions that I hope will allow you to relax and enjoy these wonderful holidays and get rid of that perfectionistic thinking.

If you struggle with Depression during the holidays,  here is another good list of suggestions for dealing with holiday stress  “Depression,  The Unwelcome Holiday Guest”