Quick! Before Christmas

1. Make space: Assess and declutter the kids’ toys and clothing. Do it with them, do it without them (with great wisdom and depending on their ages), but do it. Make room for what you know is coming. Go together to donate. Talk about blessings – how they come in and how they go out. Train them to think of their possessions in the proper perspective, and while you are doing all that training…

…be a good example by going through your own possessions – your clothing, hobby materials, and household items. Just do what you can. If others are asking you for gift ideas, this is a good way to make sure you request something you can really use and enjoy.

2. Spend time to save time: Figure out where you will be and when you will be there, and figure out who will be coming to you. Think about the clothing, food, gifts, and money you will need to carry through with your holiday plans. Do you need to get that sparkly dress dry cleaned? Do it this week. Can you bake a double batch of the muffins you are making today and freeze half for Christmas morning? Do you need to get more pillows for overnight guests? Get them the next time you go out.

3. Speaking of food, think about food: Start planning meals and thinking of what you will take for the get-together you will attend. Make lists. Buy non-perishable ingredients now, especially if they are on sale. Think of what else you can make ahead besides those muffins.

4. Stay sane: Talk to each family member and ask them, “What makes the holiday for you?” Try hard to include those things, but do not under any circumstance attempt to replicate what Martha or anybody else with more energy than you is doing. Your house is not a magazine photo shoot location, and your family is not following a script, and aren’t you glad? Be more satisficer and less maximizer. Adjust your expectations, and help your kids do that too, if necessary. Let it be relaxed, let it be fun, let it be real.