You Deserve Time Outside of the Kitchen This Christmas

We sometimes get so caught up in creating "holiday magic" that we forget it inherently exists right there in front of us to enjoy. Here are three simple ways to shift gears, find magic in the space between, and be present with your family this Christmas.

. . .

She's been tired lately.

When I think about losing my mother-in-law, my chest tightens and my eyes begin to flood. I take a deep breath and compose myself before any tears fall.

On the surface, I remain calm during conversations about dialysis, advance directives, and her will . . . but on the inside, I'm a mess.

She's always taken care of everyone else first. Even during hard moments now, she still takes time to comfort us, saying, "Don't worry. I'm fine."

She's been tired lately.

I keep asking, "How can I help?"

But I worry about asking too often. So I just ask myself the question over and over in my own mind: "How can I help?"

She's been tired lately.

Yet, I admit, when she told us she was planning on having Christmas dinner catered this year, my heart sank with disappointment. But then I realized and reassured her that . . .

It doesn't matter who makes the food, as long as we're TOGETHER.

She's been tired lately.

She deserves time outside of the kitchen.

YOU deserve time outside of the kitchen this Christmas, too.

In fact, we ALL deserve that — and so much more.

She's been tired lately.

But she still finds energy for our girls.

She still sings happy carols while frosting cookies.

She disregards the big "supposed to" tasks now and finds joy in the simple moments.

She embraces the holiday magic in the space between.

—

As moms, we sometimes get so caught up in creating holiday magic, that we often forget that it inherently exists right there in front of us to enjoy.

It can be hard to transition from the distractions of full-on Christmas chaos to being present for small moments. Certainly, slowing down is easier said than done (and some traditions are easier to forgo than others). Even so . . .

Here are three simple ways I've found can help you shift gears and practice being present with your family this holiday season.

3 Simple Ways to Find Holiday Magic in the Space Between

Find time in your togetherness, in the space between, for these simple holiday suggestions.

1. Get on the floor.

Christmas wrapping and tissue paper is being torn and tossed aside, and the room is filled with curiosity and excitement as the family opens their gifts. As moms, we're there for the big moments, with cameras in hand. But it's often in the smaller moments that the most precious holiday memories are made.

This year, after the gifts are opened, get on the floor and play with your kids — whether that means building a tower with wooden blocks, having a pillow (or rolled-up sock) fight, or playing a video game. Easy, kid-centered fun is the only goal.

Give yourself extra time to be fully present for the small moments. Those often end up being the most magical.

If you need to carve out more time for those moments with you to happen, skip the stressful burden of coordinating and cooking Christmas dinner this year. It's okay to take a shortcut and have it catered. Remember . . .

Christmas dinner doesn't have to be made by you to be served with love.

Check with your local grocery store, speciality shop, or restaurants for family catering options!

Last year, we took advantage of a holiday pre-order meals to ensure we had time to enjoy the space between with our family on Christmas. The deli offered a spiral ham dinner with all the fixings (mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, green bean casserole, and a dozen Hawaiian buns).

Everything is pre-cooked and just needs to be warmed up. Easy-peasy.

"This Christmas, I don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen while my kids play with their toys. I want to watch them play. Heck, to be honest, I want to get on the floor with them and play too." — Emma Schieb

A quick heads-up . . . holiday pre-order meals are often limited, so be sure to call your local deli today if you want to take advantage of this option.

2. Play a board game.

Roll the dice. Playing board games together over the holidays is an opportunity to slow down, bring your family together, and give them your presence.

Ironically, the joy of Family Game Night is not found in playing the board game itself, but rather in the space between turns. It's the conversations and the playful banter that make this family night of togetherness such a wonderful experience.

Creating the perfect Holiday Game Night atmosphere takes no effort at all . . . Simply pop on some Christmas music, set up a smorgasbord of snacks (A.K.A. leftovers), and grab a stack of board games.

Can I share a little tip?

We didn't serve the dozen Hawaiian buns that came as part of our pre-order holiday meal, we saved them for making leftover ham sandwiches. They're the perfect slider-sized sandwich for serving with a smorgasbord. Score!

(I sure do like to say the word smorgasbord. Can you tell? Go ahead . . . Say it yourself: "Smorgasbord." You know you want to 😉

Need some new board games for under the tree?

The next time you're out shopping, browse their vast game aisle; you'll find a variety of options, including party games that are family-friendly.

I'd highly recommend Wits & Wagers because it's easy to learn, you can play on teams (which is awesome if your family has a variety of ages), and it always makes us laugh. That being said, right now my girls' three favorite board games are:

Wrapped under the tree are a few more games including Relative Insanity, You've Got Crabs, and Monopoly Cheater's Edition. (Update: We were NOT fans of Relative Insanity, but You've Got Crabs is a hoot!)

Awesome games to give for a slow fun-filled Christmas.

3. Eat popcorn.

Yep, I know the suggestion seems strange at first glance, but think about it for a moment . . .

When do we traditionally eat popcorn?

We generally indulge in this classic salty snack when we've committed several hours to an event — going to the movie theater, enjoying a baseball game, etc.

When you pull out the popcorn, it's an unspoken commitment. It's a signal you've committed to slowing down.

If you've got little kids, host a Holiday Reading Picnic. Spread a Christmas blanket on the living room floor, make up a big bowl of popcorn, and grab a stack of holiday picture books. If you don't have a lot of Christmas books in your at-home library, check out this great list of kid-friendly holiday picture books for library inspiration!
If you've got older kids, slow down and schedule a Holiday Movie Night with your family. You might even consider breaking the rules and officially having popcorn for dinner! (A.K.A. How to Have the BEST Family Movie Night EVER.) Take the time to snuggle in, munch on something special, and truly unwind with your family.