No More Harried Holidays

I wrote a version of this 2009 for a parenting magazine. My kids were still quite impacted by their autism at the time and I was still in overwhelm mode. Fast forward to today and I am so happy to report that my kids are really doing well. However, I find the stress of the holiday craziness creeping up on me already. Sigh. Old habits die hard. Re-reading this article this morning, I realized that much of what I discussed in 2009 applies to families with young children - ones with and without special needs. Prioritizing what is important to a family's holiday celebration applies to families of all ages. I hope I remember to find joy this season and not focus on what really doesn't matter.

I Hate the Christmas Elf on a Shelf

Bah Humbug! There I’ve said it. It isn’t as though I don’t love Christmas and the whole holiday season, because I do. It is a time where we head back to Chicago to visit our extended families and it is a fun time with the kids. It just seems that the world is conspiring to make this season more complicated and stressful than it needs to be. Well maybe not the world, but definitely my mother.