Christmas should never be about conformity
Create your own traditions. Do it your way.
As the festive season accelerates into full swing, I start to think how we can make the month special for everyone in the family, and enjoy it how we want to.
Christmas is about traditions.
Some families put up a tree together while Christmas tunes fill the air. They all take turns in tossing the tinsel and hanging the bobbles. When it comes to the star, phones are pulled out to cycle back a year, to find photo evidence of whose turn it is to place it on top.
Society has created traditions. The carol singing. The midnight Mass. The big tubby fella who delivers magic every year.
We see the photos, we read the posts. We see the movies and the Christmas cards with images of how society presents a season of family gathering and festive times.
We see how we are meant to be festive.
How we are meant to share a holiday that has been created by society.
But when we can't. When our children struggle with a change to routine. When glitter and lights and pretty packages bring anxiety and meltdowns and fear and worry. We shouldn't shudder and feel like failures to a tradition we cannot become part of.
The Christmas traditions which bring other families joy and celebration, are hard for children who just want a normality.
So in our house we create our own traditions, where tree decorating is only for those who want to join in. Where presents are presented unwrapped and Christmas dinner is a feast of pizza with a side of hotdogs, topped with bottomless squash and a quick sit at the table before a retreat up upstairs, where Peppa Pig is on repeat!
Just because society has marketed a way of how things should be, doesn't mean it has to be!
Do what makes you happy.
Do what is right for your family.
Create your own traditions.
Because Christmas is about coming together.
Christmas is not about following a rule book.
It is about you and doing it your way!
How are you celebrating this year?
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Transitioning is one of the hardest things for my son, whether it is from the house to the car, or from one activity to a next. Watch below how I do it calmly and with no meltdowns.
Coming Up Next Week
We have just had Rhys' annual developmental review which went very well. Next week I will share how these meetings are for teachers and parents to agree the best for your child, and tips of how to ensure they are a collaborative approach.
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Merry Christmas Everyone!
Sadly we are all put under enormous pressure at Christmas with regard to the number and size/value of the gifts we give , what we eat etc etc I saw a post the other day that showed a picture of the nativity and it said "The first Christmas was a very simple affair, it's okay if yours is too" which I thought was so true.