The "Do Nothing Christmas Day"

What are the Two Things Parents want most on Christmas Day?

- Be with family

- Rest and not stress

Why We Drastically Changed Our Christmas Day Tradition

At 3&5 our children were far from interested in a big sit down Christmas Dinner with table cloths and china. Since it was just the 4 of us, I was not sure why I was stressing out to make a big fancy meal that no one cared about anyway. Plus, the boys did not want to stop playing with toys long enough to sit at the table and eat.

At that time we lived out in the county and packing up the boys to go to a friends house would mean leaving our house for 4-6 hours. Also not cool with little boys and new toys.

Finally, both Jerry and I worked service industry jobs in a resort town that was flooded with guests during the holiday season. If we did manage to get Christmas day off together we really did not want to share the boys and our selves with anyone else.

A five minute kitchen discussion changed the way we have done Christmas for the last 6 years.

The “do nothin” Christmas is born!

Here is how a No Stress Christmas Day Works

Everyone selects an easy to fix or fix yourself favorite food for Christmas Day.

We open presents and make short phones call to family members.

We eat when we want where we want. (This is a Christmas treat as we are stanch believers in family meals.)

Cuddle on the couch and watch movies/ play with toys and play a family game.

Just think if you did not have to visit with family or cook a big meal you would not have to worry about time or getting dressed.

Do “Nothin'” Christmas Day Stopped All the Stress

A messy house Christmas day – no problem
Frito’s and chocolate milk for breakfast–knock yourself out

Want to spend 6 hours with your new hot wheels race track–go for it

Need to nap after breakfast–great

Want to go for a walk–super just pull on your snow pants over your jammies

The shear decadence of not being scheduled to do anything all day makes the Do “Nothin’ ” Christmas Day the biggest, “bestest”, family present ever. It fits the top two wishes on both kids and adult Christmas Day Lists. Now when friends do ask, if we would like to join them for Christmas, I just smile and say no we already have plans.

I realize that many of you reading this have family close by and that a “Do-Nothin’ ”

Christmas Day may be out of the question, if you want to remain a family member. My suggestion is to find a day, December 26 when you can “Do-Nothin” “. Think of it like indoor camping. All you do is take care of the basics and enjoy being together.