The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

by Abigail Knowles Wolfe (BPRW)

Remember experiencing the magical holiday season as a child?  All that was required of us was surviving the painful countdown of advent until the respite of Christmas Day and winter vacation, attempting to quell our excitement at the most wonderful time of year in a child’s life.  The foods, the smells, the prospect of new toys, the family members so rarely seen seemingly winging in from the opposite ends of the globe when in reality it was the other side of the city…

All this has changed in adulthood to a stress-filled hustle and bustle; a sprint to the finish line, hoping that we won’t forget anything important along the way. Christmas cards need to be written, gifts purchased and mailed, special dishes and dinners need to be planned; the list goes on and on.  There are ways, however, for this busy season to be navigated without so much stress.  Especially for hardworking African American moms and families short on time and in need of some much deserved vacation.

1.    Make a list and check it twice:  Keep a list of things that need to be done, like shopping for gifts and a list of things you’d perhaps just like to do.
2.    Schedule fun activities for you and your family, such as taking a drive to admire Christmas decorations.
3.    Shop online and have gifts shipped directly to out of town friends and family.  Oftentimes shipping and gift wrapping is complimentary during the holiday season and this will save a great deal of time and effort on your part.
4.    Forget about doing it yourself and have your event catered.  Most grocery stores provide less expensive holiday food arrangements from their delis for events so free up more time for yourself by letting others help out.
5.    Make it a family affair.  Elicit the assistance of family members young and old.  Bake cookies, decorate the tree and straighten up the house together.
6.    Spread out projects and tasks over a few days or weeks, planning ahead to cut back on stress.
7.    Stop to smell the proverbial roses.  Treat yourself to a massage, take a long bath, do snow angels in the front yard or take the time to enjoy watching favorite holiday movies and specials on TV.
8.    Plan ahead for next year.  All of those fancy decorations and wrapping paper will be on clearance immediately following Christmas so get organized, stock up on clearance items, and store them safely to be used 11 ½ months later.

With these helpful tips perhaps “the most wonderful time of the year” can become just that; minus the stress!