“Imagine a world where the holidays were about people again, where door busters referred to loved ones pouring through the front door, and the four letter word that defined the season was L-O-V-E and not S-A-L-E.”
Nice sentiment, even if it is actually the beginning of a commercial for TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods (all part of The TJX Companies, Inc.).
Regardless of who coined this, the season should be about love, not presents. In my extended family, which consists of my parents, 6 siblings, 2 in-laws, 2 nieces, plus my husband and 2 sons, we pick names. Then many of us specify a charity near and dear to our hearts. But to make it a fun holiday, we fill stockings with little items. We also eat, do skits, play games, go for walks, and just enjoy family. So our main focus is L-O-V-E!
Everyone makes their own traditions. And the holiday season is a great time for family to do things together. Here are some of my favorite ideas for holiday family time:
- Bake – share a family recipe or try a new one
- Decorate – let your kids decorate their rooms too
- Craft – make your own tree ornaments, wall hangings, or gingerbread houses
- Hike – you can walk in your own neighborhood, nearby park, or mountains
- Bicycle – take a ride and enjoy the fall/winter weather
- Play games – find those dusty board games or play a family video game
- Watch movies – have each family member choose their holiday favorite
- Attend a show – many cities have productions of The Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker
- Drive around looking at Christmas lights – there are many places where whole neighborhoods are decked out with elaborate decorations
- Read – find a favorite classic or new series and take turns reading out loud
Whatever you do, enjoy some quality time together and “put more value on what really matters”.
Happy Holidays!
Amy Randall
Director of Religious Exploration