0 commentsPlanning a stress free Christmas

Christmas should be a wonderful time of celebration with people you love and want to be with but for many families it is a stressful occasion to be endured. Preparation is the key to a successful Christmas so Anne Coates gives her top ten tips:

1. Decide where you will be – often new families or families with young children are prevailed upon to spend Christmas with the grandparents. Although this works fine for the first year or so as your children get older you will want to establish your own traditions so you may need to negotiate tactfully. Discuss with your partner what you would both like to do and then present a united front.

2. Who to invite you may have to share your parents with siblings so make arrangements in advance. If you can’t all be together at Christmas organize a time to Skype/phone so you can share the spirit of the festivities.

3. Buy and write your Christmas cards early – especially nice to include a photo of your child/children for friends and relatives you don’t see often.

4. Plan your menus and shop accordingly. Plus stock up on a few standby items you might need for unexpected guests.

5. Buy a supply of different sized batteries for toys that might need them.

6. Make sure you have adequate prescription medications needed in the family and stock your first aid box with OTC preparations like indigestion tablets and analgesics.

7. Wrap presents early – there’s nothing worse that sitting up to all hours on Christmas Eve. Believe me I’ve been there!

8. If you are doing the hosting, don’t lose yourself in the kitchen. Accept offers of help gracefully and try to laugh off any calamities. My sister once dropped the turkey on the floor but no one was the wiser!

9. When your children are opening presents keep a note of who sent what so you can thank them.

10. Try to spend as much time with your child/children as possible. Your love and attention is more important than a mound of presents.