So much to share on this topic! I’ll try and share 3 Tips that I hope will help you and your family over the Holidays!
After the craziness of the past few years and having to spend the holidays social distancing, bubbling/podding, or stressing about whether or not to visit the grandparents, we are all eager and excited to gather together again during this season!
Tip 1. If you envision everything being “perfectly planned” - you will likely be setting yourself up for disappointment. I am not discouraging you from planning those activities for the airplane, packing extra cloths for the get-together, or having a variety of snacks at the ready! - just be open to the possibilities of navigating unexpected, confusing, potentially overwhelming moments as parents. Young children thrive on consistency and routine - they often have little control over what’s on the agenda for the day so they will naturally be a bit off when the routine is very different from the norm! They may also be “off” if they are sleeping in a different bed/bedroom, meeting unfamiliar faces, not in their usual nap/bedtime routine… This is all par for the course over the holidays - and the best thing you can do is try not to get overwhelmed by their big emotions - it’s understandable! Empathy, compassion, and patience will go a long way during these times. So when gathering with relatives, if grandpa is insisting on hugs and your little one is not feeling it, don’t force it or get discouraged by their unwillingness to partake in this gesture (especially because you don’t want to send mixed messages about body boundaries)! Instead, you can help model, empathize, and coach your little one by saying something like, “I understand that you may not be feeling up for a hug right now. It’s been a busy day! It’s OK if you need a little space right now. You can let Grandpa know that maybe later, you may come back for that hug!”
Tip 2. If you and/or your child are feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just wanting a break - take it! We as adults can often feel “stimulus overload” and for young children, especially if they are not used to gatherings post pandemic, they will especially crave breaks and quiet time! When we are constantly “on” - whether it’s hosting guests or visiting relatives in another city - it’s often hard to build in some downtime, but those quiet moments are so necessary to recharge everyone’s batteries! You will need to do this too, so you are not running on an “empty cup” by the end - It will be hard to care for and “fill” others’ cups if your’s is low!
Tip 3. Practice Gratitude. We may sometimes get caught up in the hustle, bustle, and commercialization of the season that we don’t often pause often enough to mindfully and actively practice gratitude. Whether it’s jotting things down in a journal for your reflection, or sending a text of appreciation to a friend or loved one, or inviting each family member to share what they are grateful for at the dinner table (and not just on Thanksgiving), there is power in being mindfully grateful! Not only is active gratitude healing and restorative, it helps keep things in perspective!
Wishing You Well Happy Thanksgiving!
