Family History, Tensions, Expectations, Nerves, Family Feuds, Ongoing bickering…  Christmas can be a difficult time especially if you are the one who is hosting the whole family this year. Our Team has put together some guidlines that can help making your Christmas  a very Merry Christmas 2017.

 

Back to Basics

• HAVE A PLAN! Know what YOU want out of the celebrations & Ask your immediate family those living with you what they would like out of the celebrations and hash out a plan of action TOGETHER, you do not need to do this on your own.
• Get the kids and others living in the home involved with making decorations etc.
• Keep it simple – less is more avoid extravagant new things to impress your “Clan” with.
• Good old traditions that everyone knows might work really well across the generations.
• Do things that work best for YOU (be honest) – last year’s bring and share might have been amazing for your sister-in- law, but it might not be something you enjoy at all as a host.
• Prepare as much as you can well in advance.
• Give yourself permission to ask for help – There are people in your family who would love to help. It is a great way to involve newcomers to the family.

Communicate, Communicate,

Communicate

• Communicate the events of the day with the guests – in different ways WhatsApp, paper note, personal conversation not everyone like WhatsApp or takes a simple verbal discussion seriously.
• Try not to assume e.g. even in close families some things might just NOT be OBVIOUS.
• Put things in place that will support you (e.g. invite your best friend or balance, plan for time on your own, etc.)

Boundaries

• Pick your battles… remember what the aim of YOUR celebrations is.
• Avoid topics that might be contentious – Christmas celebration is not the time to reveal family secrets. (remember what you and your immediate family want out of this)
• Know that you are not responsible for your family’s behavior.
• Acceptance of the others – They are who they are even at Christmas

Gifts

• Again, communication and what works for you
• Secret Santa, wish lists, or a topic for the gifts might be a good way to navigate the gifts.
• It is always a good plan to limit the price of the gifts.

Entertainment

• Dress up theme e.g. Christmas in New York or Dessert Christmas, Red-carpet Christmas – Casual Christmas, Jesus’ Birth, Starry night etc.
• Nativity play organized by some of the kids
• Traditional/cultural games get everyone going eventually (three-legged race, spoon and egg, stick fighting competition, Charades, treasure hunt etc. Touch rugby, goal shooting soccer, bat and ball competition including granny)
• Board games
• Intergenerational story telling between courses– could be prompted by some prepared questions in a jar
• Rotating seating after each course
• Oldest to youngest get a chance to serve and clear the dishes.

WE AT THE FAMILY COUNSELLING CENTRE WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A BEAUTIFUL AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!