How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

How To Survive Christmas In The Suburbs

in Everyday on

Christmas comes and goes in a flash!
All that prep.
The shopping, the baking, the organizing…..the panicking?  It’s exhausting.
How can one little Mama possibly keep her family of four happy, get them to all the open houses, family Christmas gatherings, through the meals and survive the photo shoots in one piece?
Deep breath.  It’s not easy my friends, but it can be done.
Here are a few tips I have learned along the way:
  • When you think you are done buying all of your gifts, you’re not. Buy one extra super generic gift for when some peep who is clearly nicer and way more thoughtful then you and shows up with a super sweet gift for you. Don’t you have one for her? Awkward.
  • Same goes for Christmas cards. When you go get the mail and there is some love sent to you from your second cousin twice removed, it would be sweet if you have an extra card on hand ready to go. Throw that baby in the mail IMMEDIATELY. Butt is now covered.
  •  Don’t make the damn Christmas cookies so far ahead. You and your wee ones (mostly you) will eat them and then you will be forced into re-creating all those mouth-watering yummies. (plus do you want to look all puffy in all of your Christmas pictures?)
  • Plan out those Christmas Eve and Christmas Day outfits for yourself and the kids (yes even the Teens) a good week in advance. I guarantee you will be short at least one pair of tights, black socks and possibly a red sweater. While you are at it, have at least one backup plan for all your lovelies. Food disasters, hormones or the fact that you ate 4 dozen cookies and no longer fit in your “go to” pants may force you into a backup plan.   Not that this has ever happened to me.
  • Do you have enough AAA and AA batteries? NO. You do not. There are never enough. Go get some more.
  • Do you have food for a couple of days AFTER Christmas?  Duh, the people of your house will require sustenance after the big day too.  Don’t forget to add grocery shopping to your massive “To Do” list.
  • Sweetie, no matter how hard you try you are going to be tired. It’s OK. You can sleep in January.  Have another coffee.
  • Be prepared with Tylonel, wine and keep those expectations at a realistic level and you are ready for the season of Peace, Joy and Christmas in the Suburbs.
 So now…are you ready for New Years??
I’m going to take a little time off to enjoy the season with my people who live on this side of the screen.  Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays filled with realistic expectations, wine, coffee, movie nights by the fire, great family photos, and maybe even some sleep.
Sending much love, good health, peace and joy your way.
See you in 2018!!

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    • Comments

    1. I survived! I also found a few things yesterday that I put in the “special place” so they wouldn’t get lost, plus my big bag of batteries! Merry Christmas

    2. I totally agree with the tip of not making too many cookies too early. I have done this and found that I ate most of them myself!

    5. I cooked turkey yesterday to have less to do in kitchen today. I was thinking do I have enough food my daughter started laughing. She says that I always think that way then have triple the amount I actually need. My sister is the same way, we never think we have enough but we always have tons of left overs. It’s 5 am right now and I’m going to make this huge breakfast casserole for two people lol.

    6. Well, I’ve bought batteries for the toys that need them, only to hear that my daughter doesn’t want her son to have any more of the Nerf guns – guess what I bought! Oh well luckily I something else that he can have but pretty annoying all the same.

    7. Fantastic tips to help have a less stressful Christmas – I will have to remember them for next year!

    11. I also wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a marvellous New Year. Enjoy time with your family 🙂

    12. What a fantastic post, I really enjoyed this and I suspect it will help a few people too. At the moment we’re just hoping that my daughter and family arrive here safely. Travelling on Hwy 2 from Calgary to us – ice all the way so far, cars spinning, in the ditch and accidents.

    13. We’re not at all fussed about the outfits for christmas – comfort and ease of cleaning are key 🙂