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Surviving the Holidays with Your Family (Without Losing Your Mind!)

The holidays: a time for joy, togetherness, and… utter chaos? Let’s be honest, navigating the festive season with a multi-generational family can feel like herding cats wearing reindeer antlers. But fear not! This guide is your survival kit, packed with tips and tricks to keep everyone connected, coordinated, and (relatively) sane.

Organize Like a Holiday Pro

First things first: organizing schedules is key. According to the American Psychiatric Association, 28% of Americans find the holidays stressful. A shared family calendar is your secret weapon. Use cloud software like Familycrossings.com to schedule calendar for holiday activities. Categorize each family member’s events and send reminders, from Grandma’s bridge game to little Timmy’s school play. This way, everyone knows who’s doing what, when, and where.

Sharing is Caring (Privately!)

Want to share photos of your disastrous attempt at baking gingerbread cookies without the whole world seeing? Private family sharing platforms are your answer. Familycrossings.com lets you create a family journal, sharing those precious (and hilarious) moments with only the people who matter. Remember to establish privacy norms. Avoid sharing sensitive information in photos and understand the platform’s privacy settings.

Family News Flash!

Keep everyone in the loop with a family newsletter! Whether it’s a digital email update or by logging in to a family portal like Familycrossings.com, sharing news and updates helps bridge the distance.

Recipe for Success

Don’t let Aunt Betty’s famous lasagna recipe disappear into the culinary abyss! Use Familycrossings. com to collect and share family recipes. Create a digital family cookbook, complete with stories and memories attached to each dish. This way, you’re not just sharing food; you’re preserving edible family history.

Reunions & Vacations

Planning a family reunion or vacation? Start early! Survey family members about availability and preferences. Create a planning committee and delegate tasks. Use Familycrossings.com to track RSVPs and keep everyone informed.

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Never miss a birthday or anniversary again! A shared family calendar can include these important dates, ensuring no one feels forgotten. Familycrossings even includes a gift list registry.

Family Chat for the Win

Create a family chat group using Familycrossings.com. Studies show that families who participate in instant messaging groups report significantly higher family functioning and well-being scores.

Family should be forever, and with a little planning and the right tools, you can make this holiday season one to remember. Now go forth and conquer those reindeer antlers anf those turkey carcasses!

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Learning To Share…Everything

Two boys in a first grade classroom were arguing loudly over an item they both wanted to use at the same time.

Their teacher approached them in a friendly way and said, “Boys, it sounds like you two are having a problem. Let’s talk it out.”

One of the boys told his side of the story, his face still tense but his voice lowered to an “indoor” volume. The second boy listened and then, without any prompting, came up with a solution to which the first boy readily agreed.

“Great job!” the teacher beamed. “See? You can talk it out!”

A TEACHING PERSPECTIVE CAN PRODUCE AMAZING RESULTS WHEN KIDS BEHAVE INAPPROPRIATELY.

If we approach unwanted behavior from the perspective of our child’s judge/jury/jailer, our first impulse may be to punish.

But punishment doesn’t teach kids what they SHOULD be doing. It doesn’t expand kids’ problem-solving skills, teach them how to repair social mistakes, or improve their social perception.

Fortunately, punishment isn’t the only available tool.

WE CAN CHOOSE TO VIEW THE INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR AS A “TEACHABLE MOMENT.”

When the teacher in the story above heard the two boys arguing, she spotted a chance to teach better social problem-solving.

Inviting the boys to “talk it out” reminded them of their capacity to problem-solve without shouting or arguing. They saw that “talking it out” could work, and they were more likely to “talk it out” next time.

A teaching perspective has room for punishment in some cases, but the focus is on helping kids learn the skills they need to behave appropriately.

If we view inappropriate behavior as a learning opportunity for the child, new options open up.

HERE ARE TEN CHOICES FOR MAKING THE MOST OF A TEACHABLE MOMENT:
1. Redirect the child toward a more appropriate activity.

2. Inform the child that what they’re doing “isn’t a good idea” or “isn’t safe.”

3. Give a friendly reminder about the rule the child needs to be following.

4. Guide the child through the steps of apologizing.

5. Ask the child to consider how others feel when she engages in the inappropriate behavior.

6. Help the child make amends to anyone negatively affected by the inappropriate behavior. Ask, “What can we do to help (name of person) feel better now?”

7. In the case of a conflict, prompt the children to “talk it out,” providing assistance as needed.

8. Give a new rule, if the situation wasn’t covered by the rules the child has already been taught.

9. Invite the child to think of a better to way to ask for what they want or need in the situation.

10. Teach the child appropriate words/behaviors to replace the inappropriate ones.

The rules of appropriate social behavior take a long time to learn and an even longer time to internalize as habits. Even adults don’t do it perfectly!

When we use our child’s behavior mistakes as opportunities to offer guidance, we’re giving our child their best chance to become more kind, responsible and socially competent. Find more great stuff at FamilyCrossings.com