As we descend upon the holidays (or do the holidays descend upon us?), it feels like the right time to get into the holiday-hacking mindset by revisiting all the top-notch advice we’ve dispensed in the past.
These five time-tested hacks are sure to help you achieve a more peaceful, injury-free holiday season.
1. How to survive your kid’s holiday concert
You may not think this is advice you even need, but that’s only because you haven’t read the post yet:
Shortly, you will receive an email begging your presence at a secular solstice celebration, an amalgamated holiday bonanza or a good old-fashioned instrumental cacophony. You will go, not because you want to, but because this is part of the deal.
The kids have worked so hard!!!! They’re so excited to perform for you!!!!!
That may be true, but unless your kid goes to the Fame school, this is gonna suck. Here’s how to transform brief misery into a lasting memory.
2. You need to kid-proof your holiday decor
You probably know you need to do this, but did you also know that mistletoe and holly are poisonous? No?? Then go read this:
The most wonderful time of the year is also an awfully hazardous time of the year, based on the 15,000 holiday decorating injuries reported annually by the
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
. Parents need to be extra cautious when bringing out their inner Buddy the Elf on Santa’s Eve—for little kids,
everything looks bounceable and edible and made to be played with
.
3. Put some white space on your family’s holiday calendar right now
We are here to help you resist the urge to do Every Single Holiday Thing You Could Possibly Do.
The holiday invites are pouring in. There’s the Nutcracker. That white-elephant party with the neighbors. The ugly sweater thing. The potluck for your kid’s basketball team. Breakfast with Santa. Shoot, did you forget Aunt Mildred’s gingerbread-house-making workshop?
Hey: before you go any further,
get out your calendar right now and add some white space
. Days where you’re scheduled to go absolutely nowhere, do absolutely nothing, and see absolutely no one.
4. How to deal with racist relatives at your holiday dinner
Look, we really hope you don’t have racist relatives, but statistically speaking, some of you do. Maybe this will help.
The nice thing about getting together with family for the holidays is catching up with loved ones you haven’t seen since last year. It’s lovely to hear about your sister’s new job, watch the kids play with their cousins, and grit your teeth through your racist relatives’ awful comments. Okay, wait—that’s actually
not
very fun. In fact, it can be rather distressing and depressing.
How to deal, you ask?
Depending on your goals, you’ve got four options
.
5. Give your kid a pet gift certificate for Christmas, not the actual pet
I know, I know. It sounds way less fun, but logistically, it’s the better move.
While not as exciting (and definitely not as good for the Facebook video), those certain they want to gift their kid a pet can
give them a gift certificate
that covers the adoption fee of an animal at a local shelter or rescue group. (You can place it in a pet carrier or crate to make it feel more real.) The
San Diego Humane Society
recommends doing this in order to “actively involve the pet parent-to-be in the selection process.
With more time, you and your child can research the behavior, habits, energy, compatibility with other animals, and enrichment needs of different pets and breeds to figure out which one best suits your family.