Memory-Making Simplified!

by Amy Wedel (mom to six kids)

As a mom, I want to make the Christmas season the best for my kids! This includes making cute homemade crafts, going to all the special Christmas programs, having the house totally decorated for Christmas, baking cookies for the neighbors, and of course, buying my children everything on their wish list. Are you like this too?

Well, let me tell you from experience that trying to squeeze in every holiday activity and party is exhausting! Believe me, I’ve tried. So now, every year I remind myself to take a step back and ask, What will my kids really remember about Christmas?

This year I actually asked my two children, ages 13 and 15, “What do you remember about the Christmases we celebrated when you were a child?”

To my surprise, they hardly remembered any of the homemade crafts we made, or how the house was decorated, or even what most of their gifts were! I found out that what they remembered the most were the things we did as a family.

They remembered that we would take all afternoon getting ornaments out and decorating the tree. (And yes, some of those ornaments were ones they made.) Then we would make a fun supper together (my kids liked having breakfast for supper, which works for me!) and watch a Christmas movie. They also remembered our tradition of getting hot cocoa and donuts after going to the Christmas Eve service at church, and then driving around looking at Christmas lights.

Generally speaking, young kids don’t remember activities or events, but they do remember how they feel. If they have a favorite teacher, it’s probably because that teacher makes them feel valued and important. It’s a good thing when an older adult in a child’s life makes them feel safe and worth listening to.

So if you have kids of any age in your house this Christmas season, remember that it may not be the gifts, parties, or crafts they will remember most. They just may remember the quiet, simple moments of Christmas that you have together.

One more thing… As a mom, I have to let go of trying for perfection. For example, when we make cookies for our neighbors or firemen, the kids frost the cookies. Let me tell you, they don’t end up looking exactly how I would frost them! But that’s okay. I just let it go and watch their joy.

So, join me this Christmas as we put more attention on enjoying our children than on our to-do lists. And have yourself a memorable Merry Christmas this year!

A few simple things to do with kids during this Christmas season are:

~ reading all kinds of Christmas books from the library

~ walking to the biggest tree decorated tree close by and drinking hot cocoa

~ decorating the tree as a family (again, moms, let go of perfection!)

~ going to a Christmas Eve service at church, then have a treat afterwards

~ watching a Christmas movie together (this is a big deal for my kids since I usually do not like sitting through kids movies)

~ simply being home and available for them. Turn off all electronics!