It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Or is it? We could also call it the most stressful time of the year or even the costliest time of year, too, right? But….let’s just go with the holiday feels and call this 2020 Christmas season the most wonderful time of the year!
Whether you’ve had Covid, had to quarantine (basically all of us), know someone who had Covid or sadly, lost loved ones to this pandemic, we all know that December is a month to feel thankful and grateful for what we do have. The holidays are a reminder of hope, of happy times, of shared history and of loving each other and those around us, especially those who need that love more than ever. It’s also a time for tradition – those meaningful moments that families share that will be remembered for years, even in the wake of the Corona Virus.
I’m sharing 5 family traditions that are sure to put some jolly in your step and make you forget about pandemics and presents for just a little while. Hope you enjoy this list - let me know which ones you try!
1. Have A Sugar Cookie Bake-off
Don’t obsess over whether you should make the dough from scratch or buy a chilled Pillsbury package ready to roll out, just grab what you need to make some yummy sugar cookies. Pick out frosting in a few different colors, festive sprinkles and a couple cute holiday cookie cutters and set aside 30 minutes for the whole family to decorate together. Kids will have so much fun taste-testing their cookies (because duh, that’s the best part) and sharing this activity with the entire family. Thirty minutes of uninterrupted family time is priceless, mama! Bonus – now you have cookies ready to set out for Santa!
2. Help The Homeless
If you haven’t done this before, wait until you feel how full your heart is afterward. I promise you that taking care of others, especially when you’re doing so with your family, is one of the best holiday memories you can give your kids. Sit down together and take a poll to see how your family would like to help the homeless. Here are a few ideas from my family to get you started:
- Hop in the car (don’t forget to put on your reindeer headband or Santa hat if you have one) and head to the local coffeeshop drive-thru. Order as many hot chocolates as each person can hold (4 cups per cardboard carrier is standard). Next, lock your doors (safety first, always) and then drive to the areas of your town where there are people living on the street. When you find someone to give a hot chocolate to, make sure to ASK them if they’d like one before handing it to them. Then give it to them with a smile and a “Merry Christmas”! Turn on the holiday music channel in your car to get your Christmas spirit going!
- Assemble lunches to hand out: sandwiches, jerky, chips, bottles of water (6 for $1 at The Dollar Store), gum, holiday Hershey’s kisses. Before putting the lunch in the bag, have everyone draw a holiday picture or write a cheery note on the outside of the bag. I always buy white lunch bags just for this reason. When you go to deliver the lunches, remember doors locked and ASK if they’d like a lunch before handing it to them. We always ask if they have a friend who might need one, too. You never know who’s asleep under the tree around the corner who could really use a nice lunch surprise.
- Back to the Dollar Store: we buy mittens and hats for our homeless and put them in a baggy with a little note attached. Sweeten the gift with some handwarmers if you have them handy. Our winters here in the PNW can be downright brutal with freezing temps and snow and I always have an extra hat and gloves in my glove box to give if I see someone standing at a stoplight looking cold and distressed. If you’re in a milder climate, you might offer them socks (for when it’s cold at night).
3. Give Love Back To The Elderly
I’ve read over and over recently how hard this pandemic has been on people living in retirement and nursing homes. Call ahead to one local to you and ask what you can do to help these lonely elderly folks. Maybe it’s writing a festive holiday card or wrapping a new pair of socks or making an ornament with their name on it.
4. Christmas Lights and Jammy Nights
This is a tried and true tradition that many of you have either done as a child or as a parent but let’s make it a tradition every year. Choose one night, have the whole family put on their flannel jammies (okay, dad – you can wear sweats since you’re driving!) and make cocoa at home. Fill up everyone’s cup, don’t forget a lid, and head out to look at the Christmas lights around town. You might even find that some ambitious homeowners have gone so far as to have music playing along with their light show, like here in Spokane.
5. Have a Christmas Movie Night
Complete the evening with matching pjs if you can find them, popcorn and licorice ropes. Set up a fun and festive spot where you can lay out several large blankets and big pillows. Better yet, bring some mattresses to the floor so everyone can get really comfy and then turn on your favorite holiday movie. Start a list of the ones you watch and have each family member rate them – keep the list and add to it every year. This is a fun tradition that will grow with the family!
