What Is Your Favorite Tradition Or Stress Reliever During The Holidays?

[Lee2001]

Hello everyone:) I have been a bit down and stressed this Christmas. I am trying to focus on some positive things around this stressful time! What is something that makes you feel better or happy during the holidays? I would say for me it is celebrating with my eight month old and four year old.I do love seeing Christmas through a child:) So what is your favorite?

 

[Friday]

:sneaky: Deciding to move it by a day! Or three.

Started back when I was married, and there were too many joint family things to even think of being able to enjoy ourselves. So I had a stern talk with the calendar and bent time to my will ;)

Come to find, Santa? Total badass. Orthodox Xmas is Jan 7th. Post-Communist EEurope where I worked for a time Santa was used to coming any time in Dec/Jan (pretty much whenever Dad-Got-Paid)... So he was more than happy to whisk down our chimney on whatever night we set aside for it.

My ex appears to have forgotten this. He just informed us today that TheKiddo will be spending Xmas Eve & Xmas with him. Yeah. Sure. Whatever. Like Dec 25th is Christmas? Pfft.

 

[ShodokanJenn]

Seeing my family. We all pack into my Grandpa's house for a good meal, lots of talking and laughing and hugs, and a fun (and competitive!) random gift exchange. My birthday is the day after Christmas, so I get to see my family two days in a row. I am Christian, so Christmas has special meaning to me (even though I am quite certain Jesus was not born on December 25th). Plus, Christmas day has more daylight than today does, because today was the shortest day of the year. It only gets better from here out, and I NEED the sunshine!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Candles, incense and lights on my Christmas tree! Being cozy with a cup of hot chocolate. I cannot think of any more, but this is something I love. Oh yes christmas marathon movie days. I am a cornball.:confused:;):)

 

[NoWhereKnowWhere]

My old tradition was getting drunk as hell every year on Christmas Day and Pass out at or before 4pm.

Haven't done that in a lot of years so still don't really know what to do and how to cope.

I look forward to Boxing Day. It's much more relaxed you don't have to cook just eat leftovers and everything is done and over with. I can enjoy watching my partner and dog (or the kids in your case) enjoy the toys that Santa brought. Looking forward to that.

 

[Lee2001]

Thanks for sharing everyone. I enjoyed reading it. Merry Christmas or Happy holidays.

 

[Renestel]

I appreciate this thread, I am nervous and even anxious about spending time with family in two days. I actually searched it out. I agree, it's all about the little things and taking a moment, minute, hour, day at a time. When you have kids I think it can be a fun distraction. (I know there are crying spells as well) My husband and I don't have any kids, we are a little "can only take kids in small doses" people right now. We always go over to his sisters house and she has a 6,8 and 12 year old that are SO unruly, and then 8 more family members for at least four hours. We also have a rescue dog who is a HEAVY duty abuse case and can only take so much. I have to say that she helps me the most. We kind of together say mentally in our own language" okay I've had enough screaming, pinching, pulling, and crying for the night. " She can be an easy excuse to say hey, I'm gonna take her out for a walk when I actually need the walk and quiet time more than her. I also LIVED by those adult coloring books the first two years of PTSD therapy. Maybe I will bring one and convince the kids color time is something we ALL should do together!! lol :laugh: