Friday Writing Essential- December 26th, 2008

I hope that everyone who celebrates Christmas enjoyed the holiday yesterday. I expect some are hoping to spend a quieter day today and recharge while others have plans to venture out and hit the sales.

Whatever your plans, hopefully you can find some time to stop by to submit or read a few posts.

Here's an article I found with some good suggestions for what to do after the hustle and bustle are over.

(from www.associatedcontent.com)

Cure the Post-Holiday Blues

Have Fun the Week After

By Ashleigh Rhodes

Finally!

The holidays are over, and the hours of shopping, wrapping, entertaining, and cooking have finally come to an end. There are oodles of leftovers in the fridge, which means you won't have to cook for a few days, and the decorations that still adorn your house offer a post-holiday glow.

The day after Christmas is often when the "real" holiday begins. Pre-Christmas stress can be overwhelming, between finding the perfect gifts and preparing for the arrival of family and friends. But do the kids feel the same way?

Children look forward to Christmas all year; Santa's arrival and the promise of new toys leaves them anticipating the perfect day with their family and new gadgets. They spend hours examining the presents under the tree, trying to guess which one holds what, and they enjoy the excitement generated by Christmas. But the day after, they can often be struck by a fit of post-holiday blues. So how do you help them through?

You're tired, and you'd probably like to do as little work as possible. The laundry can wait for a few days and cleaning can be done in short spurts between lounging and playing with the kids. But your children are probably wondering when Santa will come again, and feeling burned-out now that the wonderful day has come and gone. But have no fear! There are lots of ways to cure the post-holiday blues, while still leaving time for you to relax and regroup.

1. Make a scrapbook. Holiday cards have been flying in since the first of December, and you probably have an enormous stack. Instead of shoving them in a drawer to be found at a later date, why not put them to good use? Have the kids separate the envelopes, cards, and photos, and while you record addresses to use next year, let the kids cut out the holiday card pictures and paste them on posterboard. That way, you have a pretty decoration for next year, and your kids remain in the Christmas spirit.

2. Recycle the lights. Whether you plan on taking down the decorations today or two weeks from now, you can use the lights to cheer up the kids. Take an extra string or two and hang them in the kids' rooms, or adorn a homemade fort or clubhouse for the kids to enjoy for a few weeks. We had lights hanging in our rooms all year 'round when I was a child, and it offered a festive glow no matter what the month or time of year. 

3. Break out the toys. Instead of waiting a few weeks, get out all of the new toys and open them. Take the scissors or a knife to difficult-to-open packages (like barbies) and figure out where you will store them. Spend some time inserting batteries and charging electronics and play which each one for a few minutes. When the kids figure out how many new toys they have, they'll be more excited about playing with them.

4. Donate the old. Depending on the age and maturity level of your children, they might enjoy picking old toys to donate to less-fortunate kids. Let them go through boxes and toy chests and decide which ones to donate in place of their new toys, and take them to the nearest donation center. Let them give the old toys; they'll probably feel great about their good deed!

5. Take pictures. We all know how much parents like to fill photo albums, and what better time to take pictures than when the children have new toys? Take pictures of your children while they experiment with new gadgets, and make sure they play with ones from relatives who didn't make it to your Christmas celebration. As an added bonus, you can drop copies of those pictures in the mail as a personalized thank-you card.

6. Take a walk. No one has had a chance to take down the Christmas decorations, and chances are you would like to get out of the house. Take the kids and the dog and go for a walk around the neighborhood, looking at all of the lights. 

7. Start a new tradition. Other than the mall and other retail outlets, most places are deserted the day or two after Christmas. Decide that the 26th or the 27th will be the day that you go ice skating, or to the zoo, or fishing. These places won't be busy because everyone is busy taking advantage of post-holiday sales and clearances, so you're guaranteed a good time. Plus, it will get your kids' minds off the end of Christmas, and on to a new fun tradition!

8. Declare a day of rest. Get out new books and quiet toys and settle down on the couch to rest. Read to your children quietly or let them play with quiet toys while you reflect on the holiday. Even better, let your kids camp out in sleeping bags in front of the TV while you take a nap. Either way, you need your rest, and the kids will enjoy relaxing after the exciting holidays.

9. Play in the backyard. If you are lucky enough to live in a snowy region of the world, the backyard can hold all you need for a fun-filled afternoon. Make snow angels, hunt pretty icicles, and create funny snowmen. Let your kids get creative with the snow and ice while you watch from a lawn chair. Have a glass of leftover eggnog and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. You deserve it.

10. Have a potluck dinner. We know how full the refrigerator is after a holiday, so why not take advantage? Invite over some friends or just leave it to you and your famile and set up a buffet. Use paper plates and cups (less work for you later) and set out piles of leftover turkey, ham, deviled eggs, and treats. Your family and friends can munch while clearing out some of the leftover food.