Dividing time at the holidays doesn’t have to mean dialing back on any of the magic of the season.
Christmas is one of my favorite times of year, and I love all of the traditions and magic that come with the season. The holidays can be overwhelming for anyone, and with a blended family, the extra layer of logistics and balance can really pack a punch.
As a planner, I start thinking about the holiday schedule far in advance because it changes from year to year. In our blended family, we alternate who wakes up with the kids on Christmas morning. This is a great way to share the time, but it also means each Christmas looks a little different from the last.
I’ve found that the trick to keeping my sanity is turning to some of that much-loved magic of the season. Santa is the jolliest guy around, and in our house, he’s also the most accommodating. Enter Cookie, our faithful Elf on the Shelf, and any worries about keeping the magic alive are squashed.
Cookie is a watcher and a listener. Not only does he report back to Santa on the behavior of our boys, ages 5, 16, and 17, but he also keeps Santa in the loop with our holiday schedule. Messages are often left on special Christmas paper about Santa’s plans. If it’s not our turn to have all three boys on Christmas morning, he will leave a note saying that a special bag will be under the tree with a present (or two) that the youngest can open before the older boys arrive. Having a little one hold off on opening gifts until later in the day is too much to ask, and this gives us a taste of some of the early morning magic.
While every Christmas doesn’t have all the kids sporting tousled hair and pajamas when gifts are opened, there are a lot of other ways we include traditions each year. There’s so much more to the season than that single day, and I hope that some of the memories we create together will become traditions all of our kids want to continue for years to come.
Footie Pajama Day– One day over break, all family members, big and small, don a new pair of footie pajamas, and we make it a fun-filled day at home. There’s lots of hot chocolate, family movies, games, and favorite snacks.
Family Giving– Whether an organized activity through church or a family-chosen cause to support, we serve others in some way each holiday season.
Cookie the Elf– The elf has been both a fun addition and a lifesaver when it comes to our blended schedule. Having the teenaged boys help with the movement and ideas is pretty magical too.
Christmas Books– This is twofold. We have a bin of books that come out each year for our bedtime reads. We also give each boy at least one new book as a gift.
Christmas Lights & Cocoa– We all pile into the van with some hot chocolate (either homemade or from a drive thru) and cruise the neighborhoods for impressive light displays.
Special Wrapping Paper– The boys each have a unique wrapping paper for their gifts. Santa brings everything wrapped because we aren’t all together first thing every Christmas morning.
Christmas Crafts– Something crafty happens each Christmas. It may be constructing a gingerbread house, decorating cookies, or adding some homemade ornaments to the tree.
Christmas Music– As soon as the stations start playing Christmas music, it’s the go-to choice when in transit. I’ll admit, this is usually only when I can get control of the dial, but I’m hoping to make it a tradition that sticks. Although, battling for control of the dial may be the tradition they’re more likely to remember!
Shopping Day– We all head to the mall or a store like Kohl’s (30% is pretty awesome for this), and the boys pick out gifts. Each boy picks out gifts for my husband, me, and each other, and the older boys also pick out gifts for their mom, stepdad, and little sister. There’s always a quick chat with the cashier about getting items bagged before we head up to pay. When we get home, the boys scurry off to wrap everything.
While Christmas Day doesn’t always look the same for blended families, it doesn’t mean the Christmas season has to be any less magical. The time with family is a blessing whenever it may occur. Keeping the season merry and bright boils down to having the right attitude and adding in traditions and a dash or two of magic wherever you can.
