| "This year will be different. I vow I won't get | | | | Christmas morning with children enjoying their |
| stressed out over presents, parties, cards, | | | | toys before rushing off to anywhere. |
| Christmas plays, putting up the tree and | | | | 6.Start a tradition of celebrating Jesus birthday. Ex. |
| decorating, and all the many other tasks of the | | | | Happy Birthday Jesus cake, reading the Christmas |
| season. I will remember the true meaning of | | | | story before opening presents, or children having |
| Christmas." | | | | their own child size Nativity set to play with and |
| Do you find that all the Christmas chores steal | | | | tell the Christmas story. |
| your joy? | | | | 7.Set a limit on Christmas spending and stick to it. |
| "For unto us a child is born" - Aahh the miracle of | | | | Don't celebrate Jesus' birth by being in debt in |
| birth. The true miracle of our Savior's birth. As | | | | January. |
| Christian mothers we are doubly blessed to | | | | 8.Take time to pray and think about the most |
| celebrate Christmas. We know the joy and pain | | | | precious gift of all. Often our quiet times are the |
| of childbirth. We can imagine an exhausted Mary | | | | first to go when we get so busy. Using an advent |
| looking at her truly perfect, holy baby. | | | | calendar with children will also help them focus on |
| How can we recapture the joy and the simplicity | | | | the true meaning of Christmas. |
| of the first Christmas? | | | | 9.Be kind to yourself. You may not be able to do |
| Following are some suggestions for making this | | | | everything like your Mom did. Perhaps you can |
| the "Perfect" Christmas | | | | make slice-and-bake cookies with your children |
| 1.Decide how you want your family to experience | | | | instead of homemade cookie dough. Your children |
| the true meaning of Christmas. Ex. Will you help | | | | will remember the fun of decorating cookies, not |
| another family with presents? Our family now has | | | | who made the cookie dough. |
| a tradition of doing Christmas boxes for | | | | 10.Remember that you are not superwoman and |
| Samaritan's Purse. Our children love picking out | | | | you can't do it all. Sit down with your husband and |
| items for the box and praying for the child who | | | | decide who can do what on your list. Children can |
| receives their box. | | | | help put stamps on Christmas cards. Be kind to |
| 2.Prioritize what is most important to you. Maybe | | | | yourself and rest in our Savior's loving arms. |
| you can't do it all. You may choose not to send | | | | I don't know if you or I will have the "Perfect" |
| Christmas cards, but do a New Years note. | | | | Christmas, but we can make a conscious effort |
| 3.Decide what parties you can and cannot attend. | | | | to focus on our Lord. Things will go wrong and we |
| Sometimes as a family we may rarely be home | | | | will get stressed, but we need to keep our eyes |
| in December. So much for family time. | | | | on Him. We need to show and teach our children |
| 4.If you have young children, remember how | | | | that Christmas is not about Santa and receiving |
| important, normal routine and sleep schedule are | | | | gifts. Christmas is about the ultimate gift that we |
| for younger children and you. Taking a cranky | | | | can never repay. |
| toddler shopping is not a good experience for | | | | So, I wish you a "Perfect" Christmas with Christ' |
| anyone. | | | | birth as your focus, and that you would be kind |
| 5.Decide what traditions you want for your own | | | | to yourself. Set reasonable expectations for |
| nuclear family. Sometimes we are so busy going | | | | yourself and experience the true joy of |
| to extended families' homes we don't get to start | | | | Christmas. |
| our own family traditions. Try to have a leisurely | | | | |