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Surviving Christmas

Gift giving

Dilemma 1:

My children get too many presents and do not appreciate tem.

Solution:

Keep reminding them who gave them each gift and make it clear they must thank that person face to face. Once the presents have been distributed from under the tree, remove some of them unopened for later in the afternoon/week.

Dilemma 2:

Every year it is an enormous financial stress to buy Christmas gifts for everyone in the family.

Solution:

Organise it so that each family member is designated one relative to buy for.

Dilemma 3:

How can i make the presents i give more meaningful and interesting?

Solution

Any gift that you put time/effort into will be special because it is personal.

Social savvy

Dilemma 1

I dread Christmas parties because i worry about being stuck for words or looking like i do not fit in.

Solution

To ensure that you do not go into meltdown mode in front of strangers:

• Arrive on time;

• Organise to meet up with a friend for a pre-party drink then arrive to Christmas party together;

• Stand tall and stare straight ahead;

• Monitor your drinking;

• Steady shaking fingers by holding your glass with both hands;

• Take your time when doing something;

• Grab a bowl of chips and offer them around when you have no one to talk to.

Dilemma 2

I always get cornered by boring people at parties

Solution

Prepare escape lines.

Festive fashion

Dilemma 1

I am embarrassed about seeing relatives at Christmas because i have gained weight since last year.

Solution

You can look like you have dropped weight if you know how to put an outfit together.

Slimming tips include wearing:

• Similar shades of colour on the top and bottom so you do not break the flow of the eye from shoulders to feet and get a longer bodyline;

• Pencil style pants without a waistband to reduce bulk and bootleg trousers to slim your entire legline;

• A-line skirts ending just above the knee.

Dilemma 2

I love dressing up for Christmas day but in photos i end up looking like a walking decoration.

Solution

Avoid:

• Shiny fabrics;

• Busy patterns.

Eating out without blowing out

Dilemma 1

Every Christmas i gain weight by eating too much of everything.

Solution

Start a diet diary and record everything you eat.

Dilemma 2

The more i laze around at Christmas, the less i feel like doing

Solution

Every day of the holiday, schedule an activity.

Dilemma 3

I find it impossible not to eat snacks when they are on display all day long.

Solution

Drink lots of water so you feel less hungry.

Making it meaningful

Dilemma 1

My children think Christmas is only about presents when i want them to focus on Christmas values more.

Solution

Involve your children in making Christmas better for someone else.

Dilemma 2

I want my older children to enjoy the magic of Christmas.

Solution

• Sitting outside with them at night to star gaze and sing Christmas carols;

• Planting a tree to replace the many that have been cut down at Christmas;

• Asking them to foster the Santa fantasy in smaller siblings;

• Organising your own carols by candlelight with friends and inviting the older children to choose the carols and play master of ceremonies.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 13th, 2006 at and is filed under Christmas.You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.