Holidays: Time of Joy (and stress!)

I just wanted to share the most recent articles I received from Bright Horizons Family.  These are sent to my email and are short, yet informative reads.  I thought this was perfect for this time of year.

Subject: Holidays: Time of Joy (and Stress)

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Holidays: Time of Joy (and Stress!)


     
Holiday meltdowns often happen because of the sheer weight of good times and
good things. Add all the very real complications of family life and the
challenges that shadow many of our lives, and holidays can become times to
remember for the wrong reasons.



Here are some low key "shoulds":

* Try to maintain the basic routines of young children.
* Try to set realistic expectations and help children understand what
is expected of them.
* Avoid too many surprises or sudden spontaneous changes in plans.
* Try to turn off the television, get some exercise, get a little more
sleep and try to eat some healthy meals and snacks.
* Find time to laugh together.

There can be a danger in even offering the above helpful tips and advice,
even after including "try to" over and over. If taken too seriously, the
advice becomes just another item on the holiday to-do list and another set
of expectations to live up to.

Sometimes, all the "shoulds" will fall apart, making it impossible to avoid
the effects of holiday stress. It may help to realize that there are no
perfect families that completely avoid snippy exchanges, pouting, moments of
self righteousness or indignation, and the sad feelings that can sometimes
overpower the happy holiday memories. After all, we are talking about
family!

The best remedy: relax, talk to each other, share expectations and feelings,
and use common sense. It also helps to capture the moments of joy, disaster,
or silliness in pictures and family stories.


More on this
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-topic.gif>

> NewsForParents.org offers Ten Tips for Reducing Holiday Stress
> <blockedhttp://www.newsforparents.org/expert_ten_tips_reducing_holiday
> _stress.html>

> Cooking Mom realizes that holiday stress affects children
<blockedhttp://blogs.brighthorizons.com/momtomom/2010/12/dear-santa-please-w
ork-your-holiday-magic/> too when her daughter utters the heartbreaking
words - "I hate myself"

> News Mom offers ideas from her sisters that make holiday shopping
> simple
> <blockedhttp://blogs.brighthorizons.com/momtomom/2010/12/holiday-shopp
> ing-made-simple/>

> Our Online Community members discuss holiday challenges such as how to
> handle the advertising overload
> <blockedhttp://community.brighthorizons.com/t5/Toddler/How-to-handle-t
> he-holiday-advertising-overload/m-p/2582> and how to split time with
> family
> <blockedhttp://community.brighthorizons.com/t5/Family-Fun-Activities/S
> plitting-time-with-family-over-the-holidays/m-p/2465#M137> when
> celebrating this season


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