• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Lasso The Moon
  • Welcome
  • Parenting
  • Recipes
  • Family Games
  • Travel
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Welcome
  • Parenting
  • Recipes
  • Family Games
  • Travel
search icon
Homepage link
  • Welcome
  • Parenting
  • Recipes
  • Family Games
  • Travel
×

Home » Blog » Uncategorized

Daring to Celebrate Christmas Without Extended Family

Published: Nov 28, 2013 · Modified: Apr 10, 2019 by Zina Harrington · Post may contain affiliate links

Need a break? Be daring next year: celebrate Christmas without extended family.

Daring to Celebrate Christmas Without Extended Family

Great Wolf Lodge, Green Bay WisconsinI look out the water park window and the snow is falling. It's going to be a picturesque movie-like White Christmas this year.

The guilt is stirring in my mind.

I take another sip of my margarita and wipe the steam off my phone. I look at the text my brother sent again. It includes a photo of all the nieces and nephews celebrating at Grandma's house.

Three words: We miss you.

We decided to celebrate Christmas with just our immediate family. As a gift to the girls we booked a 4-day weekend at The Tundra Lodge indoor water park. The idea felt great in theory, but on Christmas Eve the weight of the decision started to feel heavy.

The girls interrupt my thoughts with their laughter.

"Mom, it's a huge EIGHT. Take a picture! Take a picture!" I happily oblige and join them down the water slide.

I sit back down to my drink and novel. My girls are strong swimmers and because we are the only family in the entire facility, I comfortably dive into my book.

My phone vibrates and another photo pops up. I stare at the photo, then look back to the window again.

927761_1511278052489978_1843720680_nI am mesmerized: the girls' voices melting into the constant sound of the water rushing, the soothing warmth of the pool air on my skin, the gentle snowfall.

"What are you looking at?"

And in a split-second all the guilt washes away.

YOU can love your extended family with all your heart and still want to spend a quiet holiday with just your spouse and kids.

My husband sits down next to me. I nod my head to the window, "It's snowing."

If you struggle this holiday season, make a commitment to ditch the guilt and consider planning a holiday trip or celebration for just your immediate family next year. The key to a success is Charles Dickens.

Pause. Breathe. Then say...

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
—Charles Dickens

Take the time to shower your extended family with love, presence, and presents 364 days of the year. You deserve this one day.

sig

P.S. I'd love to fly away for a BEACH VACATION. Someday in the not so distant future! The 80 degree water park is the next closest thing here in Wisconsin. Here are a few of my favorite photos from the adventure. That last black and white Instagram is titled, "I'm not tired."

Daring to Celebrate Christmas Without Extended Family *daydreaming about this for next year

When we weren't in the pool, our family spent the day in matching holiday PJs having fun at the hotel. Rose was a huge fan of the ferocious stuffed bear outside of the pool at The Tundra Lodge. Sometimes she'd wrap her arms around his leg for a "bear hug" and other times she'd laugh hysterically as Dad punched the bear in the tummy to protect her as she cowered down from what would likely be certain death.

Daring to Celebrate Christmas Without Extended Family *daydreaming about this for next year

this post contains affiliate links - thanks for supporting usThe kids love this annual matching PJs tradition. Our fleece PJs are no longer available online, but check out some adorable family pajama sets on Amazon.

If you want to make this an ongoing annual tradition, I highly recommend going with a company like Hanna Anderson for family PJ sets.

They've had this traditional collection for YEARS. Which means, you can invest in a pair of adult PJs that basically last your kid's entire childhood. It also means that you can easily sell and buy future PJ sizes online new or used through resale sites like eBay. They style is pretty darn cute... Wishing you a relaxing holiday season!

Family holiday PJ sets from Hanna Anderson *So cute for Christmas

divider

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

divider

Pin it:

Daring to Celebrate Christmas Without Extended Family

More Uncategorized

  • Little girl wearing antlers with a painted reindeer nose laughing as she hears Would You Rather Christmas questions.
    Would You Rather Christmas: 100 Jolly This or That Questions 🎄
  • A set of the glass food storage containers with strawberries, blueberries, salad, and veggies in them surrounded by lids.
    Small Kitchen Organization: Simplify + Create TONS of Space
  • The BEST Glass Food Storage Containers
  • How To Potty Train A Puppy - Things You Need To Know When You Start Housetraining

Primary Sidebar

Portrait of Zina

Hi, I'm Zina! You know you’re in the right spot if — You believe in game nights. You believe in PJ movie parties. You believe in breakfast for dinner. And most importantly, you believe happiness is family.

Let me show you around →

Popular

  • A cat who is nervous about moving hiding under a couch.
    7 Astoundingly Helpful Tips for Moving With Cats into a New Home
  • Two woman sitting on the sidewalk talking about turning 40.
    5 Brutally Honest Things Every Woman Turning 40 Should Know
  • How to Maximize Space in Your Luggage: You'll be amazed at what's in this suitcase *10 packing tips and hacks for your next family vacation
    The Best Way To Pack a Suitcase: How to Travel With a Family + a Single Suitcase
  • How to Ensure Your Tween ROCKS the First Day of Middle School: Know what to wear on the first day ahead of time. If you’re daughter is like mine, she’ll likely have this picked out a week in advance. Recommend she picks a secondary outfit, “just incase she isn’t feeling it” on the first day. It is always good to have a back-up plan. *Great list of back-to-school tips for tweens
    How to Ensure Your Tween ROCKS the First Day of Middle School
  • Hidden Valley Ranch Chicken Marinade — THE BEST Chicken Recipe With Only 4-Ingredients!
  • This cheesy chicken pot pie biscuit casserole is SO GOOD. If you’re pinched for time, keep this 30-minute cheesy chicken biscuit casserole simple with ingredients from your pantry. This quick and easy chicken bake uses cream of chicken soup and sour cream, so it is amazingly creamy. *This is a keeper! My kids (and husband!) love it.
    Chicken Biscuit Casserole

Footer

↑ back to top

Lasso The Moon

  • About This Site
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Slow Down In Life

  • Overwhelm and busy get in the way of finding time for what really matters in life. Ready to reset? Join me at Becoming UnBusy too!

Slow Living Movement

  • "She silently stepped out of the race she never wanted to be in, found her own lane, and proceeded to win."
    — Pam Lambert

Copyright © 2020 Lasso The Moon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.