The holiday season is fast approaching. Any sound advice for a newbie here? Do you tell your out of town family to stay away with their three young kids for Thanksgiving? How does do other people handle the hustle and bustle, traveling, family etc.
Prepare over time - take it easy. I do a little at a time and it saves me. Reduce the stress and delegate. I prepare foods that can be - ahead of time. I ask that everyone who comes be in good health (enbrel) and I have hand sanitizer openly around the house. Others do dishes - never do the dishes after playing hostess. Potluck if you can.
I am lucky, my family is understanding and supportive. the first sound of a moan or groan as I bend or move and they force me to sit down and take over.
Quality of life what it is all about - I would never want to lose contact with my family - they are what life is all about. Modification and enjoy your loved ones.
We do Thanksgiving with my husband's family in Pennsylvania (8.5 hour drive with five kids). We leave here at 1 or 2AM Thanksgiving morning. I drive the first leg of the trip. We stop at around 6/6:30AM for breakfast and to stretch our legs. Then my husband takes over driving and I put Hoteeze patches on my achey places, take pain meds, and try to sleep. I start planning NOW for the trip - I pack a snack bag for the grown-ups; a small bag for each of the kids with books, snacks, a juice box, and a small stuffed animal. I make playlists / cds for the trip. I make and freeze food for myself and my gluten-free kids to take the stress off my in-laws (I have celiac). While in PA, my in-laws and husband take care of food, the kids play, and I rest and chat with family. We bring our queen size air mattress to sleep on. I pack clothes, etc. at least a week before the trip.
For Christmas, we have a Christmas Eve gathering at my sister's and Christmas Day at my parents' house. I live in the LEAST handicapped accessible house (go figure!), so my 93 year old grandmother can't make it up my driveway/stairs to the first floor of my house, so we can't have family gatherings here. I usually contribute gf desserts to the meals. On Thanksgiving Night, the seven of us put our names in a hat and each draws a name. The person whose name you draw is the person you are "Christmas Angel" to - you do nice things for them in secret leading up to Christmas and make or buy one gift ($5 limit!) for the person.
Advent and the Christmas season are my favorite times of the year. In early November, my husband and I wrap Christmas and other Winter holiday themed books and every night from the first night of Advent up until Christmas, the kids get to unwrap one book and we read it as a family. We celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 6th - the kids leave their shoes out the night before and receive gifts from St. Nicholas. This year it will be chocolate coins and tickets to see Straight No Chaser on December 21 (except for my oldest, who has Aspergers and would be overwhelmed at the concert - he'll be getting a gift card to the movies). On Christmas Eve we have brunch at my sister's house, then have Christmas Eve worship in the evening, during which my daughter and I sing in the church choir. Then we go home for a late dinner and open our Christmas Angel gifts before bed. On Christmas morning the kids open their stockings and their gift (one each) from my husband and I. Then we head to church, then to my parents' house for lasagna and family gift-giving.
We try to keep it simple and manageable. I do lots of prep before the fact, We make and freeze gluten-free cookies and any dishes we'll need to bring for the holidays. We focus on what's important (family time, church) and what's not (getting lots of stuff, doing lots of stuff).
Thanks
Thanks Nym. Your post gives us all ideas on how to keep the holidays more manageable.
I can't travel (I flare horribly) and my family understands. We do phonecalls and exchange gifts and treats. For Thanksgiving we are invited to a friend's house. If she is out of town, my family gets a small precooked Thanksgiving meal (offered from many grocery stores), or go out. We spend the time resting and relaxing.
For Yule time, I carefully start back in July. I start shopping for gifts. By Thanksgiving I have gifts for far away family packed and shipped. I get my cards written out all during Nov, and I only send about 20 to the people who really matter to me.
That leaves all of December to focus on my own family. Right after Thanksgiving I get out the tubs of Christmas stuff, then have my children and husband help decorate whenever I feel up for it. I no longer wrap gifts for the kids, I have reuseable felt gift bags I use each year. I order a lot of things online. I only decorate one room and the powder room bathroom. Some years I can bake cookies, I start in Nov. when I feel able and freeze them. When I can't bake much, I might make one small batch of something, and mix them with bought chocolates and cookies to gift to others like teachers.
For Christmas Eve, we use pre-made appetizers. Christmas day, we either go out or eat something that I have prepped ahead in case I'm not feeling well.
It sounds like a lot, but basically it comes down to lots of planning ahead, a lot less homemade food, planning in weekends or weeks where if I'm not feeling well I don't fall behind. I double or triple the time planned to accomplish something, so I'm not frustrated if I can't get it done quickly.
Marietta said:
I can't travel (I flare horribly) and my family understands. We do phonecalls and exchange gifts and treats. For Thanksgiving we are invited to a friend's house. If she is out of town, my family gets a small precooked Thanksgiving meal (offered from many grocery stores), or go out. We spend the time resting and relaxing.
For Yule time, I carefully start back in July. I start shopping for gifts. By Thanksgiving I have gifts for far away family packed and shipped. I get my cards written out all during Nov, and I only send about 20 to the people who really matter to me.
That leaves all of December to focus on my own family. Right after Thanksgiving I get out the tubs of Christmas stuff, then have my children and husband help decorate whenever I feel up for it. I no longer wrap gifts for the kids, I have reuseable felt gift bags I use each year. I order a lot of things online. I only decorate one room and the powder room bathroom. Some years I can bake cookies, I start in Nov. when I feel able and freeze them. When I can't bake much, I might make one small batch of something, and mix them with bought chocolates and cookies to gift to others like teachers.
For Christmas Eve, we use pre-made appetizers. Christmas day, we either go out or eat something that I have prepped ahead in case I'm not feeling well.
It sounds like a lot, but basically it comes down to lots of planning ahead, a lot less homemade food, planning in weekends or weeks where if I'm not feeling well I don't fall behind. I double or triple the time planned to accomplish something, so I'm not frustrated if I can't get it done quickly.
2 words.....paper plates!
TKR lady you took my reply LOL paper plates, pot luck and your guests know in advance they will be doing any cleanup.