De-stressing Christmas

For many people Christmas brings stress, not cheer. How do we change that, and bring joy to ourselves and our families? Christmas is about giving, peace and love. Giving does not necessarily mean material gifts; it can mean a whole range of things. We can give the gift of forgiveness – there may have been a family upset, why not resolve the issue and forgive and forget? Start the New Year in a positive light with no hard feelings or unresolved issues in the back of your mind or heart. We can also give the gift of love to someone who may be spending Christmas alone. Invite them into your home to feel a part of something special. When finances are tight, homemade vouchers are a lovely and thoughtful gift. Vouchers can be for things like babysitting, car cleaning or help in the garden, for example.

‘Peace on Earth’ is written on many Christmas cards but what does that mean for us personally? For me, peace means spending quality time with my family and friends, and experiencing the warmth that they generate. This year I will also be sending messages of peace to the people throughout the world who have been affected by terrorism, genocide, war, poverty and oppression.

Christmas Day does not need to be at the family home, many families are spending the day at the beach. Instead of the expense of the traditional ham and turkey, people are opting for a barbecue. Spending the day at the beach can be particularly entertaining for children. They can swim, explore rock pools, play on the playground and run in the open air. This can be relaxing for parents as well, knowing that their children are having fun and enjoying their time with family and friends. Mathesons Bay and Tawharanui have become popular for Christmas Day, as they offer all of the above. Other local spots are Goat Island, Snells Beach, Warkworth Cement Works and Martins Bay.

Camping is another inexpensive way to spend Christmas. It is exciting for children and can relieve the pressure of trying to entertain them. If you camp in a public campground, children can make new friends and join in the activities. It is a nice way for families to socialise. Don’t forget to rest. Children and adults need to relax and rest during the day; it can level everyone out and make the day more pleasurable.

Separated families can mean a lot of extra travelling. Why not see if you can come to an agreement to maybe have an earlier Christmas Day or a later one. Children do not mind, they just want to be with their family for Christmas.
Merry Christmas and safe holidays from the team at Homebuilders Family Services.

We will be closed on Thursday December 24 and will reopen on Monday January 11. We will be checking our phone during this time for urgent messages.