My Grown-up Christmas List

It's the things I learn from other parents that seems to get me through the tough stuff and this year I want to share one of my all time favorite golden nuggets from a Mom I met in Washington a few years ago. It is my biggest secret to a successful Christmas and I call it my "Grown-up Christmas List". This list is not a list of presents I want, but a list I add to and edit every year as a reminder of what did, and did not, work the previous Christmas. This list also includes "Christmas Realities" which is a list I keep to remind myself not to sweat the small stuff that inevitably comes up during the Holidays.  I keep this list in the box that we store our fake tree in (we set our tree up December 1st) and make sure to read it over very carefully every year after the tree is up.  This list has saved me countless hours of baking things nobody eats, gets me through those times when everyone is looking at me for something fun to do, reminds me what games everyone likes to play and what traditions are important to everyone. It also reminds me
about the things that I can't prevent, can't change and can't influence. It's my little tap on the shoulder that says "hey, take it down a notch lady".  Here's a few things on my list from last year that are helping remind me about what needs to happen (or not happen) this year.

-Nobody ate the Poppycock. Finally threw it away Jan 3rd.

-Get presents to US in the mail by 1st Saturday in December.

-Everyone loved the puzzle to have coffee around. Keep one going all the time.

-Send emails out reminding everyone when we are going to be out of town or when we are going to be home.

-Son really liked putting out reindeer food in the snow.

-Appies on Christmas Eve just as much work but everyone loved it!

-Hubbie and I enjoyed christmas eve wrapping presents. I hate last minute wrapping but it was quiet time together we needed.

-Hubbie's Dad liked concert tickets. Do that again 2010.

- Make Papa's drinks for him. His eyes are bad and tolerance low.

- find someone to drive Auntie and Uncle out as they were nervous on the roads last year.

This list is going to save me the time of making Poppycock, reminded me about mailing times, to remember to pick up a couple of puzzles, to check in with friends who might be traveling this way and about some of the things that were special to our son last year. This list has evolved over the years into a very comprehensive reminder about what works and doesn't work for our family over the Holidays. It also reminds me to put my expectations in check about Christmas. No, everyone is not going to be snuggling around the fire place quietly listening to soft Christmas Carols and, yes, someone is most assuredly going to bring up politics in front of the brother-in-law who likes to debate politics and Uncle will probably have to much to drink and think he can drive. I read my list, get prepared and then make sure I have realistic expectations of myself and my family over the holidays.

My bit on it: Be realistic, proactive and don't expect to remember everything from one Christmas to the next! Write it all down and make sure it is the first thing you pull out next year when you hear the jingle of the Salvation Army Bells. Use your Grown-up Christmas List to set you, and your family, on the path to an enjoyable, relaxing Christmas.