Help! How do I keep the peace during the holidays?

There seems to be so much chaos around the holidays. Do you have any suggestions to help maintain a state of peace and calm for my sensitive child and my family?

Absolutely!

1. First and foremost, make your own peace the top priority. The best way to teach our children is through modeling.
2. Take some time each day to sit quietly and breathe. Breath in peace, breathe out chaos. Do this on your own and as a family if they are receptive.
3. Consciously choose with whom you want to spend your time and for how long. For example, if the neighborhood holiday party is too overwhelming, maybe you want to stop by for 20 minutes to meet up with one other family. Or maybe you don’t go at all and replace the group gathering with a quiet family experience. A third option would be to invite a small group to your house and have a set ending time so that you and your family do not feel overwhelmed. Ultimately, attending parties out of obligation does not serve you or others.
4. Be intentional. Light a candle* with the intention that the flame is infusing your home with love and, well… light! You can tell your family about the intention or just keep it to yourself. (As always, keep the candle in a safe place if you have young children.)
   *As a side note, consider making candles with your kids. You can buy bee’s wax candle making kits online from Amazon or the more natural toy companies like Magic Cabin. Each candle could hold a different intention that the family decides on together.
5. Set up some quality time with your child (ren). Even though we spend a great deal of time with our kids during the holidays, rushed, harried time is almost like not being with them at all. Purposefully scheduling even 20 minutes of one-on-one connection time with your child can have a huge impact.
6. Focus on gratitude. As I mentioned in my “Thankful for what?” Thanksgiving blog, make a list of what you are thankful for. Remembering that where attention goes, energy flows!

Above all, know that you are doing your best. Commit to loving and accepting yourself during these busy times. Try this simple exercise: each time you pass a mirror, stop, look yourself in the eye and say, “I love and accept you just as you are.” Watch how these simple words can shift things for the whole family.