If your situation is anything like mine, soon your kids will be home from school for Christmas break. That means days of being home all day with three children who are overly excited, trapped indoors because of freezing cold temperatures, constantly needing a snack, and — even when they are having fun playing together — they still sound like they are fighting.
You might be wondering how I will survive this ordeal and, if you’re in this situation, how you will do the same. This year, I came up with a five-part plan to survive Christmas break. Feel free to use, modify, share or ignore.
1. Do as much as possible before Christmas break starts
Since I’ve ordered most of their gifts already, I plan to wrap all presents this week. This way, when the kids are home for Christmas break I won’t have to lock myself in my bedroom to wrap presents. This allows me the option of locking myself in my bedroom simply to get away from my kids.
This week I’m also hoping to meal plan and grocery shop for many, if not all, of the break meals. It’s been some time since I’ve had to take all three kids to the grocery store, and I’d like to keep that streak alive if possible.
2. Use Santa and Elf on the Shelf to your advantage
“Kids, if you’re borderline between being on the Naughty List vs. being on the Nice List, cleaning your rooms may just tip the scales in your favor.”
3. Speaking of cleaning, get rid of old toys
I’ll probably tell my kids matter-of-factly that we don’t have any room left in our house for new toys UNLESS we get rid of some of our old ones. This could also be used as an opportunity for kids to learn a lesson about charities that accept gently used toys. The alphabet learning set with only 14 letters, though, that just needs to go in the trash.
4. Multiple trips to the public library over winter vacation
- It’s warm.
- It will get us out of the house.
- They have daily activities for kids.
- It’s free.
Do you really need any more reasons?
5. Misery loves company during Christmas break
Invite one of your friends over that is home with his or her kids, too. If your kids are like mine, after a few days of just being around each other, they will jump at the opportunity to have a different person in the house to play and pick fights with.
That’s all I’ve got for now. Wish me luck. And best of luck to you as well this Christmas break.
A version of this first appeared on Indy’s Child.
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