Revolutionary! A Relaxed Christmas.

  Growing up as an only child I dreamed of big Christmas events. I swooned over the image of huge parties, baking fancy feasts every weekend and making the month of December a flurry of activity. Fast forward 25 years, one hubby and five boys later, and I want to wave the white flag of surrender.

  That stuff is exhausting. Over the last few years I have quickly come to realize that I get busy doing Christmas and then get so stressed I drive my family crazy. I became the grumpy mom while baking cookies, stringing popcorn and fulfilling a million obligations. Now that is a perfect Christmas fail! How can I ever teach my kids about the miracle of Christmas if I become a crazed fool?

  This year I am having a relaxed Christmas and ignoring those visions of the 'perfect' holiday. I'm throwing in the hand-knit, custom stitched, organic frou-frou towel. If you need me, I will be relaxing by the fire instead of dragging myself to fifty parties or running all over town for the perfect gifts.

  Are you with me, Ladies? Let's start a revolution.

  Let's only go to the parties we really will enjoy, let's do all of our shopping online, let's kick up our feet and sip egg nog on the couch with our families. It's time for a movement of relaxation. We keep it simple, keep it real and keep Christmas fun!

You can continue reading at DivineCaroline, where you could win a $200 Gift Card! Very cool. ;)

Love, Alli

Comments

[Loretta]

I'm with you! Except for the eggnog .... yuck! I'll have a cup of tea instead ;-)

[Karyn]

It's been my experience that a relaxed Christmas is a more joyful Christmas. After I celebrated a certain number of Christmases with kids, I realized all the frenzy isn't worth it and it detracted from rather than enhanced the season. One of the many upsides of simplifying Christmas is that it helps to not build up expectation in our kids that will be difficult for them (and their future spouses) to achieve when they have their own families. A lot of what we {everyone, people in general} do at Christmas is based on the ideal we carry in our minds, often planted by childhood memories and Christmas movies. Mostly I blame the movies :)

Recommended reading: Unplug the Christmas Machine.

[Octamom]

Sign me up for that relaxed Christmas thingy--I've heard of it, but I may need some help. Do you have about 10 lists or so that will give me an execution pattern and plan for 'Relaxed Christmas'? Does Martha Stewart have a book on it?
;o)

Blessings!

[Michelle Wegner]

Our Church (Granger Community Church in Indiana) is doing the exact same thing. Our theme this Christmas is "simple christmas) The idea is for everyone to chill out and enjoy themselves and their families. I hope people really take simplicity to heart this Christmas. So many are under such difficult economic circumstances, and it puts tons of pressure on them when everyone else around them is frantically trying to out give the next guy.
:) I hope you have a really simple Christmas and don't give in to the madness! I'm really gonna try.

[Kim H.]

AMEN SISTA!

Last year we even passed on participating in the "school" Christmas program. How bad is that? But it was so delightful. Nothing extra to practice for. No extra dress outfits to come up with. No rushing to get an early seat to only still end up in the back. Oh, it was great.

And I hear you on the party thing - only go to the ones that you really want to. I think sitting down and really thinking about what is "obligatory" is key. Family and the TRUE MEANING of Christmas needs to be the focus.

What to go girl. Just keep reminding us if we start to appear weak! :)

[Jennifer A]

Now i know why I like you. I was an only child in a small family so Christmases were very relaxed and not rushed. Now, the days have worked out between the two families (hubby is one of 4 from a large family) and we have created our own traditions. Christmas morning is just for the 4 of us, no one else.
I also am starting a new tradition of making everyone I can a gift and trying to support more women/mommy owned and ran businesses.

[Hillary - The Queen I Am Not]

I'm definitely ready for a relaxed Christmas this year. We're staying home and not visiting anyone. And, to be totally honest, my Christmas shopping is already done. Everything is in the house and just waiting to be wrapped. The girls are wearing "old" dresses, no one needs special shoes, and baby boy will probably just wear pajamas. Christmas is going to be wonderful this year!

[Alli {Mrs Fussypants}]

Slacker Christmas Moms Untie.

I mean unite.

YAY!

[Joy of Frugal Living]

I'm totally with you on this. Let's have FUN, and not try so hard. :)

[Summer]

I am so with you! In fact I'm going to blog this at my stress blog tomorrow. :) http://mamascoffeetime.com

[Beth]

Shopping will definetly be simplified this year!

[Kathleen]

You are a woman after my own heart! Rebelling against the Christmas rat race has been my battle cry for years. My kids have enough junk, why do they need to be overloaded with things yet again? I have been doing all my shopping online for several years now, and am big on doing family gifts for those I can't get out of sending a gift to.

I started my Christmas cards in October, and just chip at them little by little so that they are not a last minute panic. I discovered that the store bought egg nog is just as good as homemade, and how many cookies does one sane person really need?

Fighting the holiday crazies also means for me less stress, less weight gain, and less debt incurred. Plus more time to fight the frump and not hate my Christmas pictures come January....

Thanks for the reminder!

[Susan]

Amen Sister! Things have gotten so commercialized and over-done that it's taken the fun out of Christmas--we work to hard to "make it happen" and then don't get to enjoy it. The state of the economy is forcing many to realize that it's not all about the stuff, the parties, etc. Christmas is for remembering the "reason for the season" and being with the ones you love.

Have a blessed holiday season!

[Blue Castle]

I'm with you! No more frazzle mommy.

[Melissa from Pittsburgh]

I did it last year and I'm doing it again this year.

Only emergency shopping outside of internet.

AND I'm sending out Mr.T to do the emergency shopping so there is VERY little I have to go out and purchase.

Making cookies with my girlys ... dinner with friends and family and that is IT!

TADA - nice and smooth Christmas free of headaches and crabby mommies.

[Simple Mindz]

I did just about ALL my shopping online last year. I loved it! will be doing it again this year too!

[Musings of a Housewife]

Amen, Sistah! I have been doing this for years, lol. I'm not a homemade Christmas kinda girl, although I did used to kill myself on a nice ladies brunch every year. But not this year. I have no energy for it. So I'll join you for eggnog on the couch. Hey, you have a good recipe for it?

[Lightening]

We did this a couple of years back and it really was the best Christmas ever. Last year my SIL did Christmas (so again, simple for me ;). This year we're going to my parents and I'm having a hard time convincing my mother that simple is the way to go. *sigh* And she wonders why she hates Christmas so much (yet still insists on making it SO hard!!!).

[Kisha]

We don't have a big christmas here since it's just the 3 of us and no snow but there are certain things I have to have in order to have a great Christmas. Nothing major just a couple of movies and things to eat but no parties for us thank goodness, LOL>

[Heather, Queen of Shake Shake]

But where, oh great Fussypants is the story on Divine Caroline? I can't find it and want to read it.

You know, I think the holidays are going to be great this year, though not from a retailer's perspective. We're parring down not because of a lower Xmas budget, but because we're tired of it all. Too many toys so none really get played with, too much running around and not enough savory.

Count me in on this relaxed Christmas!

[Tamra @ It all started with a kiss]

Oooh, I like the online shopping part, especially.
Christmas on the Couch. I like the sounds of that.

[DeAnna]

Yes, Yes, and YES!!!! We had already decided on a simple Christmas this year. I am looking forward to relaxing, enjoying time with family, and NO big NYE party this year. This is why I love you Fussy!

[nancybusypants]

Oh my goodness, I completely agree. I use the season now as an excuse to do as little as possible, kick around in our PJs and listen to Christmas music. I try to avoid any parties I won't like because the only thing I will gain by them are POUNDS!!

[SJSFalter]

Im in, totally full on head over heals, in. Relaxed and simple Christmas...bring it on.

[Colleen - Mommy Always Wins]

Hear hear! I tend to be "crazy Mom", too - what I'm sure I don't realize is that my kids don't need or care about nearly as much as I think they do. They'd probably be happier just spending more time with me!

[Karol]

Wow, I am right there with you. I began my Christmas decorating yesterday and seriously scaled back on what I put out this year. I have also done several things to lessen the gift giving stress and I am feeling happier and lighter already!!!!!!!!

[do it yourselfer]

How funny...I was just talking to my husand and my girlfriend about simplifying our Christmas this year. I feel much more relaxed already...just making the decision.

[Bobbi Jo Nichols]

I am with you on this! I have already decided to do just that and have a fun relaxed Christmas and then found your blog through Nesting Place and her lovely blog.
I am enjoying your blog very much. So now on to that cup of hot chocolate and a good Christmas movie with the family. Hugs, Bobbi Jo

[Beck]

Yep! We're already done our shopping - done entirely online, except for a few purchases made locally to support our town, we've already announced that we're staying home Christmas day and all we have to do next month is sit back and reeelaaaaaax. Lovely!

[Kimba @ AQ Soft Place to Land]

I adore you. I've made the executive decision in our house that we are spending less and doing less. I'm pretty sure hubby won't even notice since I'm always the driving force behind the holiday madness. And I KNOW the kids won't notice.

And at the same time, we'll be doing more. More family, more love, more CHRISTmas.

[Adventure girl wanna be]

Hi, this is a great idea. For years I would drive my family crazy making the perfect meal and decorating the house perfect. Have fun relaxing!