Are you a parent who’s determined to thrive no matter what life brings? Do you struggle to do this in the midst of the circus act that is life with special needs children? Then I’m glad we’ve found each other!
It’s my first day here at 5 Minutes for Special Needs, and I’m leaping for joy to have a place to connect with other parents who “get it!” As a mom with four kids, two foster/adopted (with bipolar, developmental delays and RAD) and one home-grown with ADHD/ODD, I get it. Like you, I’ve had to find resources to help me do this parenting thing and not fall apart doing it. I’m excited to get to know you and to build friendships with other families who are walking that same challenging road.
Will you find time to enjoy this holiday season?
So let’s get right down to it, shall we?
Don’t know about you, but I feel like the two-headed mom during the holidays. It’s the time of year that the difference between living in Holland and Italy is most stark. Where my childhood expectations (and, sadly, childhood hang-ups!) come back in full force more than any other time. Because of that, I struggle to be present – really, joyfully, honestly in the moment – and my moods ricochet like racquetballs in my head.
I definitely don’t have the secret sauce nailed down for that blend yet, but here are some helpful ideas I use to get more hours in the day and cultivate peace on earth during the holidays instead of being a major Scrooge!
Embrace the white space on your calendar. Don’t have any for the next 6 weeks because of social expectations, holiday events, and all the usual appointments? Then start erasing. When we don’t have breathing room in our schedules, we get distracted easily, feel more stressed out, and lose our joy. Cutting or rescheduling some of what we have planned (and not just the fun stuff!) will give you back time you would have spent distracted and worrying about all you have to do!
Make creative adjustments to gift-giving. Everyone in our family is matched with one other person, and we have a set monetary limit for each gift. That way we can focus on one thoughtful gift and maybe even get to know a family member better as we sleuth for ideas! It frees up time we would be shopping, and allows space for other joys of the season.
Make a list, check it twice, and then shop online. Crowded stores = bad mood. Bad mood = less efficient in using your time. Instead of standing in shopping lines for hours, hit the stores at odd hours (not after work), or just skip it altogether. Moms and students get free 2-day shipping through Amazon.com’s Prime programs. And others can group like items for those on their shopping list so you can meet the minimum spending cutoff for free shipping on most sites.
Get a personal chef. I have one. It’s called Mr. Crock Pot. With more activities, we tend to eat more prepared and fast foods, which are expensive, fattening, and leave us feeling less jolly than we could. The crock pot gives you more time in a few key ways: 1) Preparing ingredients can double as family time as everyone assembles ingredients, 2) It frees dinner hour to do other things (or just relax) instead of cooking over a hot stove, and 3) The healthier, more balanced meals give you time to enjoy the festivities instead of being constantly under-the-weather.
What ways do you find more time to enjoy the holidays from Thanksgiving to the New Year?