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Happy Holidays!
I feel like I blinked and all of a sudden the holidays are here. That’s life with little ones, you blink and a month has flown by. We are so excited for a holiday weekend filled with love, joy, fun, and lots of memories! We spent the week shipping packages, buying some last-minute stocking stuffers, putting together our donation bins, baking cookies, looking at Christmas lights, and listening to all the holiday music. My daughter woke us up with a lovely serenade of “Jingle Bells.” She’s been having a blast putting together her own homemade gifts for us and her baby brother and wrapping them all by herself.
She’s been super excited this past week! Excited, happy, extra playful and loud, full of lots and lots of feelings… sound like your little ones?
The holidays are fun, exciting, and memorable, but for young kids (and for everyone, honestly), it can also be a lot. All the extra fun and exciting projects, crafts, shopping trips, music, activities, family visits, differences in routine, and sugary food can be overstimulating and overwhelming. It’s no wonder the holidays can bring on a variety of different and difficult behaviors. Moodiness, tiredness, crying, whining, clinginess, impulsivity, pushing boundaries… it should all be expected and it’s completely normal. I’m an adult and even though I’ve been having fun, it’s been stressful!
So as the holiday weekend approaches, remind yourself that even though the holidays are fun, it’s a lot for kids. It’s a lot for everyone.
Try to put yourself in their shoes and create a fair and healthy perspective of how overwhelming the holidays can be. Try to remind yourself to be extra patient and understanding with your sweet little ones. One of my favorite quotes that I repeat to myself daily is “Children aren’t trying to give you a hard time, they are having a hard time.” Kiddos don’t mean to be extra whiny or clingy, they don’t mean to seem ungrateful or impatient, they don’t mean to push your buttons… they’re just having a hard time. They’re uncomfortable. They’re tired. They’re overwhelmed. Slow down, get down on their level, listen to them, help them rest, keep them safe, and offer lots of hugs and love.
Respectfully hold firm on your boundaries with loved ones, both for your kids and for yourself. Babies don’t need to be passed around if it makes you or them uncomfortable, and it’s okay if kids don’t want to talk and socialize with others. Advocate for your kids and don’t force hugs. Be mindful to take breaks with them, let them rest and nap, and don’t force “fun” activities if it’s just too much. A great holiday weekend doesn’t need to be busy, loud, activity-filled, and full of long family visits. A simple weekend with gentle activities, short visits, and time at home with family is just as nice.
And most importantly, don’t forget that the absolute best gift you can give your children this holiday season… better than any gift, toy, shirt, gadget, or whatever you have wrapped under the tree… is your presence. Take a few special pictures and then put the phone away. Whether you’re at home or visiting with friends and family, just be with your loved ones. Be present. Take in the special day. Have fun and make lots of great memories. It only comes once a year!
Happy holidays from our family to yours!
Lots of love,
Anna
More of our favorite holiday posts are linked below…
Last-Minute Holiday Gift Ideas for Little Ones
Reminding Myself that the Holidays are About Making Memories, not about Perfection
More Memories, Fewer Gifts… A Practical Approach to the Holidays
