From Amanda's very early writing (1990s to early 2000s), shared as it was originally written.
CHRISTMAS STRESS - THE SILLY SEASON - Part 1
Oh No, it's Christmas again! Already. What happened to 1994? Unless you're a toddler or small child, you are probably lying awake at night dreading the thought of all the things you have to do before Christmas day. There's parties, presents, cards, holidays, traffic, in laws, parents, animals to be looked after (four legged furry ones!), your partner hates your brother's children, your sister's children make a mess of your house, your cousins are weird, buying food, cooking, transport, and a zillion other things to think about, not to mention the usual exhaustion that goes with the end of the year, just before the annual break , 'can I make it through these last few days' syndrome.
So , how can you make this Christmas less stressful for yourself? I have put together 10 commandments for reducing the stress of Christmas to help you my dear readers!
- pretend there is no difference between December 25th and any other day. (or celebrate Jesus' birthday and make sure he's the only one that gets a present!)
- go away with your immediate family...... or friends if you don't like your family........or maybe just your dog and you should escape ...
If you can't go away..........
- agree to not give or receive presents - or not over $5.00 presents. (where do you find anything for less than $5 these days?!)
- if you do buy presents, buy everyone the same present (one stop shopping saves time) and
- buy all your presents for 1995 at the January 1995 sales (and remember where you hid them!)
- tell everyone you know that you will not be sending cards; instead you are sending thoughts. They will know they are receiving these thoughts any time they feel happy
- do not eat
- do not drink
- do not ask anyone to your house
- do not even think about it!
If you follow these golden commandments, you may make it through the silly season without a heart attack, nervous breakdown, divorce or murder charge!
Seriously folks, Christmas can be a wonderful time, a lonely time, a stressful time, a happy time or a stressfully happy time. My good friend Noel Whittaker was telling me today that a tremendous number of divorces are filed on Boxing Day because so many people hang on until Christmas ... for the children.... hoping that things will improve. But they rarely do! But more of that in part II.
So how will your Christmas to be? Get organized and buy your presents now to avoid the pressure of last minute panic buying; or start the making of the presents now - cooking, woodwork, sewing; or at least think about your gift list so you avoid last minute hysteria.
Make sure you invite people over if your family are in another place and you can't - or don't want to - join them. Find a group of 'orphans' (other people the same age as you) and have your own 'orphan's' Christmas day. Arrange to go and visit children in hospital or orphans in an orphanage or old people in a nursing home. Do something that helps someone less fortunate then you.
Prepare yourself to be with your family if you rarely see each other - remember the good times and the positive characteristics of your brothers/sisters , parents , cousins, aunts and uncles. Keep telling yourself that it's only for a short time! Keep breathing and try to see the funny side!
If you are the one having the entire family to dinner/ lunch, then ask for help! Go to a restaurant; have it catered for; or have a salad with the turkey. When it's approximately 400 degrees outside, why do Australians keep having huge , hot lunches (with lots of grog)? Only to be followed by a huge, hot dinner at someone else's house (with more grog), which is followed by indigestion!
Be careful of thinking that the Christmas get together is a opportunity to patch up old wounds/ fights etc! It's probably wiser to do it after everyone has had a good holiday and relaxed- not at the end of a busy year when people are already anxious because it's Christmas.
And lastly, what do you say to yourself about Christmas? Your self talk will usually predict what will happen - why not 'self talk yourself' into a merry Christmas - no matter what your circumstances. Stay tuned dear readers for the next instalment on Christmas, divorce, separations and step families which should make a great movie! Oh yes - and have a happy Christmas!
