Yesterday I joked about starting a coup d’état on Pinterest during the holiday season.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Pinterest and the ingenuity of creating virtual bulletin boards. It eliminates paper waste for me and further organizes the swirling ideas in my mind. It is beauty and semblance in a neat package.
But, like any good thing comes the negative or abuses. I see a pin for Christmas ideas in July and begin thinking of endless gifts, decorations, stocking stuffers, Advent ideas and…oh yeah, let’s not forget about adding Jesus in the mix. It’s a Pinterest Christmas leading to what was intended for simple beauty turned into stress filled complacency.
All those pins lead me to the need and want to create something pin worthy. Yet, I’m left feeling even more confused. It’s hard on me where Advent wasn’t a practice in my upbringing, or many holiday traditions. How then do I create new and healthy traditions for my unique family, while respecting our familial rhythms?
Here’s what I do know:
Simplistic Peace
It’s not pinable (my word). It’s not formulaic. What it is is a way to breathe life. Rather than making a big deal about Advent activities or holiday festivities, my family enjoys the little things. We have figured out our family rhythm, which most often revolves around the question, “Will doing this activity bring us stress or life?”
For me, family dinner on a regular basis is more important than trying to squeeze in too many activities. Our table is life and connection in our day. Although that kids craft Advent idea looks wonderful and good, it just might not be for our family.
I use to make a plethora of cookies or baked goodies, because more seemed better. I came to realize it isn’t as feasible as it once was with three little ones in the kitchen. One of our traditions is to make one type of cookies and hand deliver them to friends. It isn’t stressful, but simplistic.
I want to learn from you. How do you keep holiday traditions simple, peaceful and manageable?
About Kamille Scellick
