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Health & Fitness

How To Have a Peaceful Christmas Morning

Christmas morning can be a scene of joy.. and sometimes chaos. Here are a few tips to smooth things out.

Christmas morning can be filled with joy, festivity… and chaos. Here are some tricks to help things run smoothly:

Ready The Scene

  • Set out a bin/box for each family member opening gifts. Label it with their name (or photo if they are very young.) Invite each family member to put all gifts inside his/her box after opening.
  • Give each person a list with his/her name on it for recording gifts. If you can, put each person’s list on a clipboard with a pen tied to it. Encourage children to write down details of each gift to help them write thank you notes later. Designate a “scribe” to record for children who are too young to write.
  • Have large garbage bags ready for used wrapping paper. Collect it as each gift is opened to avoid losing items inside crumpled paper.
  • Have a box/bag for ribbons and bows and that can be recycled in future years.
  • Have a playlist of your favorites ready to go.
  • If applicable, set up the fireplace so ahead of time so all you need to do is light a match.

Prep the Food

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  • Prepare as much of the holiday meal as you can in advance. This includes chopping onions, measuring spices, pre-cooking sauces, etc.
  • Prepare some breakfast items  (e.g. a breakfast casserole, coffee cake, cut up fruit) that can sit in the fridge overnight and, if necessary, be easily baked in the morning. Set up the coffee the night before for a “quick hit” in the morning.
  • If your tradition includes a formal meal, set the table the day before. Remember to think about place settings, serving bowls & utensils for each element of the meal, linens, and candles/centerpieces.
  • Hang a stocking with a small toy (e.g. a puzzle, legos, trivia questions, etc.) and a snack (e.g. a granola bar) on the doorknob of each child’s bedroom to keep them busy until Mom and Dad area ready to go. Agree in advance with family members about what time the “festivities” will begin.

Avoid Loss/Breakage/Injury/Tears

  • Remember that children want to play with toys right away. Make it easy for them byinstalling batteries and removing blister-pack wrapping ahead of time. If gifts require a charged battery, consider doing that ahead of time as well (even if it means “opening” the packaging early).
  • Put gift cards/checks/tiny gifts up high in a designated location (on a mantle, for example) as soon as they are opened. These are easy to lose.
  • Have a large Ziploc bag, labeled by name, ready for holding small gifts/parts/pieces/candy.
  • Be sure to keep all candy (especially chocolate) up off the floor (out of the reach of pets), and away from a lit fireplace (where it will melt into a big glob.) If you hang stockings on a fireplace that you use, move them before lighting up.
  • Make sure to check the contents of ALL boxes before trashing/recycling them (look for receipts and paperwork.) Many a gift has been unintentionally thrown away.

Capture the Moment

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  • Charge all cameras/camcorders/phones on Christmas Eve. Be sure to have extra memory cards ready to go.
  • Take a family photo of the kids before they come downstairs. It can be hard to reign them in once the unwrapping begins, and you don’t want Christmas morning to become a staged photo shoot.
  • Take candid photos of gift recipients opening items from distant relatives. These make a great insert into a thank-you note/email.
  • Invite all family members old enough to snap photos throughout the day and thenhave one person collect and upload them. Consider making an annual “Christmas” photo book.

Savor the Holiday

Whatever your faith and traditions are, be sure to take some time during the day to celebrate them. Invite family members to share what the holiday means to them. Read scripture, pray and be thankful. Sometimes it is the unexpected “slowing” and “stillness” that is most memorable.

Merry Christmas to all… and to all a peaceful day!


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