Photo by David Choate
A few years ago after a slew of holiday celebrations, shopping, eating, baking, cleaning gift wrapping and decorating, Christmas day had come and gone. And I was exhausted! I had so much to do, and I am ashamed to say that I didn’t really enjoy the holiday as much as I should have, and was often tense, irritable, and short on patience.
My husband decided that it was time we began to simplify the Christmas season for our family. Not only to make it more enjoyable and manageable, but also so that our children’s memories of Christmas wouldn’t be mommy with a scowl on her face 
So the next year as October approached, we sat down as a family and made a list of the things we would definitely be doing, and the things that needed to be cut. It wasn’t easy, and the first year implementing it was difficult, but it was so worth it in the end.
So how do we keep Christmas simple in our home?
::The Gatherings
Did we really need to go to every family, friend and company Christmas party? We didn’t think so and decided to narrow our list down to 3 gatherings a season. Any other invite that comes our way we politely decline.
::Hostessing
We also decided that it was quite difficult to have the entire family over every year. So we discussed with our extended family and decided to rotate who would host the family gathering each year. Then we simplified the meal, even *gasp* using paper plates, napkins and utensils. We went with a potluck meal and lots of finger foods. The first year we couldn’t believe how much more enjoyable the gathering was, and how much less stress the hostess had placed on her by doing it this way.
::Gift Giving-Extended Family
We love to give gifts to our family, but not only is it getting increasingly costly the larger our family gets, it is also a lot to shop for the gift, wrap the gift, deliver the gift etc. We decided, again with our extended family, to do a Yankee Swap each year. That leaves us buying one gift for a guy and a girl instead of 12 individual gifts. We also set a dollar amount maximum for each gift. This made buying ahead much easier, and did I mention how much fun it was?
::Gift Giving-Our Children
My husband and I discussed that we would rather invest in one gift that our children really wanted and one or two other gifts in addition to that. We usually make the one gift a higher dollar item. I was worried that my children would miss the excitement of unwrapping many gifts, but boy was I wrong! They were thrilled to get the one thing they really wanted. We also purchased most of them online, saving us a trip to the crowded store. And no more wrapping until the wee hours of Christmas Eve!
Those are just a few things that work for us in simplifying our holidays. I have found that we focus more on the meaning of Christmas, enjoy the holidays much more, and are making memories that don’t involve a scowling momma! If you find Christmas to be less joyful than it should be, perhaps this is the year you should considering simplifying in a few areas as well.
What have you done to keep the holiday season simple (and more enjoyable!) in your home?
{ 6 comments }
Well last year, we decided to go simple too and made little toasts for appetizers, then cheese fondue and little “mini-cakes”.
Presents were BANNED (because some of our guests could not afford them and it made life so much nicer and cosier for them).
I’m amazed at how easy it is to say “ok guys, no presents this year” to our guests and how happy they are to accept an invitation when they don’t have to bring presents. (Although some did bring flowers, a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates, etc.).
I have heard many people refuse invitations because they are too embarrassed to bring a “cheap” present.
Christmas was wonderful!!!!
We went to paper plates, etc. a few years back. I was unboxing and cleaning china for a lot of people and we decided that it just created too much work. The food still tastes just as good on paper as it does on china!
stacy´s last blog: Menu plan for this week
Stephanie Reply:
December 10th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
That is so true Stacy!
Great post, I’m all for simplifying, we are doing some of the same things.
Susan´s last blog: A Crock Pot Christmas!
Stephanie Reply:
December 10th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Hope you have a Merry (Simple) Christmas
Great post! We’ve really simplified things this year too. We started the 3 gift plan for our kids (4,4, & 1 yr) this year. I’ve done the majority of the shopping on-line and was finished by Thanksgiving. We are focusing on the things that our family really enjoys, like cutting down our own tree, a family advent chain and going to the Nutcracker Ballet. We are going to just one Christmas party and we no longer exchange gifts with extended family adults (just the kids and our parents). I’m doing a lot of baking fun with my girls. The only big “work” left is the wrapping of presents.
Stephanie Reply:
December 10th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Sounds like a wonderful holiday season. Every year we trim more and more away!
Great list. We don’t go to many gatherings in Dec either. We haven’t set a number but just say ‘no’ to most everything.
I used to host Thanksgiving every year for my family and after a few years my grandmother told me to buy paper plates and napkins and the pumpkin pies. I figured if she said it was okay… Saves tons of time. Like you pick your battles with your kids, you should pick the things you like to do best when entertaining – & for most of us it’s not doing dishes.
Debra´s last blog: Silver…
Stephanie Reply:
December 10th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Yeah for your grandmother! They can be the hardest to agree to paper plates I have found. My mom insists on China for Thanksgiving, but I am working on her about that!
Oh I love some of these ideas. We do the same for presents, although still not too expensive (they’re 4 and 6) and only three presents, since that’s all Jesus got. We also don’t wrap the presents, since Santa doesn’t wrap the presents from his workshop
I have to admit that I could really go for some Yankee gift type stuff for my extended family right about now. That would be nice.
Michelle´s last blog: Scrooge No More
Stephanie Reply:
December 10th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Wow no gift wrapping? That would definitely make things easier but I don’t think I could give that up. I like the idea of 3 gifts each and am thinking of going that route this year!
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