Ian Grant - Don’t let the tyranny of the urgent destroy your family relationships this Christmas - Self Help - Easymix

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Ian Grant - Don’t let the tyranny of the urgent destroy your family relationships this Christmas

Tuesday, December 13, 2011 10:55 AM

So put the Magic back into Christmas. Start planning now.

Remember children need their museum of memoirs filled with great experiences. Christmas is one time of the year when as a family you can do this. So plan ahead. With the stress of the season, plan a few things for your children to do :

Like baking ginger bread men to hang on the tree, that you can give to visitors when they come; Or wrap-up a special gift to take to a neighbour. Have the whole family decorate the Christmas tree.

Plan fun things for when the children wake-up ie. have coloured string tied to their beds that lead to some of their presents. It can lead through the fence, into the neighbours etc.

Find fun things to fill the Christmas sacks, just cheap little things.

So remember, don’t be your children’s slave but rather their parent-coach inspirer! Make sure that you create a few traditions around Christmas which communicate – ‘in our family we always do this’. You might:

· Visit a Christmas light show, a Christmas drive-through or a Christmas pantomime

· Wrap up little bags of shortbread or chocolates and take them to your neighbours and friends to wish them a Happy Christmas

· Wrap a present for a child who is less fortunate and together take it to where there is an ‘Angel Tree’ set up

· Have some friends over for a Christmas drink and carols.