Holiday self-care & celebrating with tradition
By Tracy Real, Parent & Community Educator, Safe Harbor Coronado
The holidays bring up feelings of excitement and joy, but for some, it can bring unwanted stress and even sometimes sadness or depression as people are busy managing the multitude of all things in December. If the ongoing commitments, expensive gifts, and endless entertaining is too much--cut back. It’s OK to politely decline events and decided elf on a shelf needed more time to visit new families in Coronado. With some simple self-care tips, you will be able to relax more and be ready to focus on the things that matter most. Spend your time on what gives you the most joy and makes the biggest impact on you and your family.
The included self-care infographic shares some simple but powerful self-care tips to help lessen the stress in December. Self-care helps you feel and be your best, making more time to strengthen family connections. It is not so much about taking exotic trips as it is about daily habits that nurture your mind, body, and soul. One such self-care activity is simple stress free, low /no cost family traditions. They rid of chaotic planning and give more quality time with family to make lasting memories.
Around the holidays, keep in mind that relationships last much, much longer in your heart and your head than toys and other tangible items. Who remembers all they received in years past? The Cookie decorating, holiday cooking, tree lighting, playing the dreidel game, white elephant exchange, holiday hikes, or other traditions give lasting impressions and make families merry over the years. What do you remember fondly?
The Coronado community shared some of their most holiday treasured traditions.
Drake Lahr and his mother make an annual apple pie from scratch on Dec 23 and then eat in on Christmas eve. Grandma is called during the process to partake in the baking from afar so she can also be “there” and share any additional tips from her recipe.
The Berger family has a pie night much different than the 3.14……….. For over 25 years, friends and family have been bringing and eating pies together (ranging from pizza pies to dessert favs like pumpkin) the day before the holiday so everyone has room to eat.
The Reyes family celebrates with many fun activities throughout the month. They hike, ice skate, build gingerbread houses and most of all, enjoy one another.
The Cornejo- Gonzalez family began getting more creative after covid and started a new annual Christmas biking scavenger hunt that turned into a beloved family tradition. The kids find clues at various locations throughout Coronado activities but the whole family participates children, parents and grandparents . They make small outfit updates each year-2020 they sported ugly sweaters, 2021-matching pajamas, 2022- winter theme. The finale of fun ends with a cup of hot cocoa at the house where everyone selects their topping. The entire event is a yearly family highlight enjoyed by all.
The McColls share two days of multi generations of full celebrations. They dress in kilts at their annual reunion on Christmas day. After dinner, the cousins perform a talent show followed by a nativity scene and each has a role around the manger followed by a reading of the Christmas Story. December 25 is the annual flag football game where drafts occur for the players age (5 – grandparents). There are some past NFLers in the fam so the little ones often get carried across the goal line and the game always “somehow” ends with a tie score.
Don’t have a tradition. It is okay. Start a new one that brings your family joy. Simple events like movies and cuddling on the couch can bring relaxation and connection to everyone and keep the HAPPY in the holidays.
