Stress-free Christmas visits

Ah, Christmas. It's the perfect time to snuggle up and enjoy some time with your kids -- that's if you don't have a million places to be and people to see in the 48-hour Christmas crunch, which starts on December 24 and ends late the next day.

When our eldest daughter, now seven, was young we were happy to accommodate relatives' needs and requests for visits. We'd bundle her up and head off to my in-laws for Christmas Eve, and then hit both my parents' and sister's homes on Christmas Day. (Luckily, my husband and I have very little extended family in Canada, so the visits were kept to a minimum by geography.)

New traditions
But when our second daughter, now four, arrived, we wanted to create our own traditions. My husband, who is Estonian and grew up celebrating the holiday on Christmas Eve, really wanted our girls to have memories of spending this special night in their own home. We had also become members of a local United Church that is within walking distance from our Toronto home and holds a magical candlelit carol service on Christmas Eve. So we made the decision to tell family we were staying put on Christmas Eve -- except for the trip to the church service -- but would welcome anyone who wanted to come to us for a visit.

Inviting family to visit us
For the past few years my parents, as well as my sister and her immediate family (her daughters are older at ages 11, 12 and 15), have come to our home for a Christmas Eve buffet and the carol service. We end the evening by exchanging gifts so the kids, who often see each other on Christmas Day, won't be overwhelmed with presents come the 25th. We also let our daughters open one present from us, which is usually a new pair of pajamas.. The gift exchange also retains an element of my husband's Christmas Eve traditions.

No Christmas Day commitments before 2 pm
On the 25th, we enjoy a lazy morning at home. Another decision we made was not committing to be anywhere before 2 pm so the girls could enjoy their gifts and none of us felt rushed. Then we head over to my father-in-law's place for a late lunch (thankfully it only takes 20 minutes to get there) followed by an evening dinner at my parents, who live close by. On occasion, we have packed our PJs and slept over at my parents' so our daughters could have a more relaxing evening.

Giving other family members a chance to host get-togethers
We often spend New Year's Eve or the first day of the New Year at my sister's home, so she has a chance to host a family get-together for the holidays. When it comes to seeing friends, we spread the get-togethers out over the last days of December and into the new year so adults and children alike have something to look forward to beyond that 48-hour holiday crunch.

Here's hoping you find a peaceful way to spend time with your kids and family over the holidays. Merry Christmas!

Page 1 of 2