Holiday slow down

Monday, November 16th, 2009 | Family, holidays

Though we haven’t quite hit Thanksgiving yet, the move into holiday mode has already officially begun. And if it seems like it’s coming at you faster than ever, perhaps it’s because it really is. I even read one report of an early “black Friday” which seems to me like calling Thursday Monday.

In our house we are beginning our holiday prep by making list of the items we can make for gifts this year. Sewing, drawing, baking, helping, collecting will all be themes this year for sure. We are not big shoppers by any stretch. Well, unless you count the thrift store which I truly adore. We are however big lovers of making and sending packages far and wide. These packages have become a big part of our holidays and we start their assemblage in early December and fill them all month long. It’s fun on our end to make things, draw pictures, find things in our treasure stash, discover relics here and there that remind us of relatives far and wide and pack them up in crayon covered wrappings. When all is said and done, filled and decorated, the boxes go out via USPS to their destinations.

To all of us in our family of six, this ritual, which has grown over the past few years, feels connected. It fills us with the spirit of giving. It fills us with thoughts of our huge and extended family. It is now filled with tradition too. And it feels slow and connected.

What are some of your traditions? What are the things you do during the holidays that fill you with love and connection? How have you found ways to celebrate the season without feeling overwhelmed?

Need help finding ways to slow down your holiday? We’ll help you bring back the comfort and the joy.

3 Comments to 'Holiday slow down'

David Snieckus
November 19, 2009

Hi:
In my opinion, a great idea for slow family living during this “recession down time” is learning how to make your kitchen a wellness center.

http://www.davidsnieckus.com/articles.php?id=106

Enjoy the holidays
david

DJ
November 30, 2009

We are novices at the slow family thing, so there isn’t much gift-making involved in our holiday preparation, save our daughter’s crafts and various drawings by her that pop up all over the house from time to time. I have, however, found a way to make shopping enjoyable.

I took her yesterday to do a series of errands we needed to accomplish. She needed new jeans. I needed some soap. And she had an allowance she wanted to use to get a new stuffed animal. So we went to the clothing store first, grabbed a stack of clothes to try on and headed for the fitting rooms. We took one in the corner of the area, and she tried on one outfit at a time, showing me each one, and sorted them into “yes,” “no,” and “maybe” piles. We were probably there for 45 minutes. No hurrying. We discussed the merits and drawbacks of each article, and talked about our budget – what we had to spend on clothes that day. And ultimately, we found what we were looking for and left.

From there, we went to a locally owned gift shop where the stuffed animals she wanted were. While she sorted through the large shelf from which she could choose and tried to make a decision, I moseyed around the store filling a basket with little things for my wife’s Christmas stocking. She got done before me, so she played with her new stuffed dog on a couch and even picked out something she wanted to give her mom for Christmas.

My point: we probably could have done all these errands in an hour. Instead, it took three and a half. Why? Because we took our time, stopped for a tea in between stores, and basically just chatted with each other. It was yet another chance to be close with my daughter – something I relish greatly.