Holidays are great times for the family, but they can also stress and stretch your nerves. As parents, you're already under a lot of pressure. So follow some of these suggestions to enjoy the season and your children to the fullest:

• Easy does it. Don't fill the days with too many activities. If you rush through all the activities, you won't really appreciate any of them. Leave some days open for spontaneity or quiet reading of holiday stories.
• Talk about traditions. We often go through the holidays assuming our kids know the significance of the season. Talk to them about what makes the holidays special to you.
• Mete out responsibilities to the kids, too. Cleaning up is a good and manageable chore for even young tots.
• Help the kids learn how to focus on others. Give them a voice on what to give as gifts. You can encourage them to be charitable and generous, and detract from the "gimme syndrome."
• Ease up on regular home rules, but don't forget them altogether. Find a balance between being flexible and sticking to some type of routine.
• Don't try to be the perfect parent. Cut yourself some slack and set reasonable expectations for yourself. Focus on what's important.

National Business News
Nov/Dec 1999
Volume 12, Number 6, Page 22