Handling the Holidays
This episode is a rebroadcast of one of ParentTalk’s most popular episodes, our “Holiday Special” episode from 2022. Join Arthur and Susan as they discuss handling the holidays with your family and/or loved ones this holiday season.
Holidays mark a time of change for families, be it by way of traveling, or opening our own homes to those we love. Cooking, cleaning, and coordinating are all a part of the holiday fun. But while the chaos is most often a welcome part of our lives, and the lives of our children, it can play havoc with the expectations, stability, and routines parents work so tirelessly to maintain.
In this episode, Arthur and Susan offer guidance on how to manage expectations during holiday events, navigate the social complexities that come with seeing family and friends after a long absence, and accept the disruption of normal rules and routines that so often accompanies the holiday hustle. A must listen for parents interested in guidance on “handling the holidays.”
“Some parents are so committed to keeping a schedule that they are willing to sacrifice their interactions with their family. If that’s what you really need to feel comfortable, then that’s fine, but I want to give you another idea. Schedules for little children are constantly in flux. So many things other than holiday events can interfere with schedules—developmental surges, changes in appetite, all kinds of things. So, if you’re okay with it, let it go for a three- or four-day weekend. Let them stay up a little later, or have pumpkin pie for dinner. It’s only a couple of days. Once you’re back to your normal routine, your child will slip back into their schedule.”
– Susan Glaser
Episode Highlights:
– Handling the holidays. What about the hug?
– Reintroducing family members to your children after a long absence.
– Preparing family members for seeing your child after a long time away.
– Making introductions while hosting.
– Maintaining eating and sleeping schedules during the holidays.
– Creating physical boundaries on behalf of your child.