We all spent months preparing for the most wonderful time of the year. There was planning and shopping and baking and traveling and celebrating and organizing and decorating and making all the magic that makes mamas lose sleep over the holidays (insert name of resident elf here). After all the post-festivity cleanup and reorganization, life pretty much does a 180.
Our wheels are no longer spinning with a variety of baubles and bows attached. Yes, we’re still busy and often overscheduled, but now it’s planning and organizing of the everyday life variety. The parties and festive fun have likely dwindled and fa la la la la has been replaced with ho-hum.
While our sanity (and our wallets) may be glad that Christmas comes but once a year, families can start suffering from Post-Holiday Letdown Syndrome. When the merriment and anticipation come to a close, a feeling of disappointment can start to surface. Sure, not being pulled in a million different directions and wondering how it will all get done is happily in the past, but there were also a lot of great memories and special family times that are now in the past, too.
Much of the anticipatory enjoyment of the season is centered around the budding excitement that accompanies counting down to the next tradition: the hot cocoa and tree decorating, the family trip to the zoo, the trek to Grandma’s house, the assembly line of baking a favorite holiday edible, etc. One of the main reasons all of these activities felt magical was because they were experienced as a family. We were giving our kids the gift of time together and making memories.
The beauty of the gift of time is that it doesn’t have to be given once a year like candy canes and fruitcakes. Family Fun can be added to a monthly calendar and offer a reminder to let some magical time together be a regular occurrence. The anticipation of togetherness and making memories can continue throughout the year, and these 4 anytime traditions are a great place to start.
Local Experiences
Exploring the city once a month can be a great way to bond as a family. This can be a free trip to a new-to-you park or a splurge on a local activity or event. CMB’s 25 Cincinnati Experiences to Gift This Year is a perfect spot to find some family-fun ideas.
Footie Pajama Day
This would be Footie Pajama Day revisited in our household. Clear the calendar, don some fun jammies, pull out the tasty treats, and gear up for games and a movie marathon. Leave the electronics charging on the shelf, put a hold on the honey-do list, and immerse yourselves in spending time together at home.
Random Draw Days
Decorate 2 jars to hold your ideas, one for things to do and the other for dinner options. Each family member gets to add one or two items to each idea jar. Things to do could include at-home adventures like competing in a Wii bowling tournament, fashioning an obstacle or ninja warrior course in a backyard or basement, hitting Redbox for the latest movie, or to do items could be family outings like heading to Top Golf, visiting the zoo, etc. Meals could be favorite dine in or out options depending on the budget. On a Random Draw Day, the family may experience Dad’s favorite pastime of going fishing coupled with your son’s favorite meal of spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.
Subscription Services
Who doesn’t love getting mail? Families can look forward to a monthly or quarterly delivery of an activity, which can serve as a reminder that some family time needs to be carved out for enjoying the latest arrival. Doing some research will help parents find the best fit for their family’s age levels and interests. Some fun options are Escape the Crate for mystery/escape room enthusiasts, UnboxBoardom for board game lovers, or any of Kiwi Co’s lines that have themes ranging from STEM activities to cooking to art.
Battling Post-Holiday Letdown Syndrome with the gift of family time can help some of the magic of the season continue throughout the year. While I want holiday traditions and memories to stand out and be special for my kids, I also want the true heart of those memories to be the time we spend together. By being purposeful in the planning and adding a reminder to the calendar, the countdown to Family Fun becomes more than a holiday exclusive.
