*Protect your child's naptime and playtime.

*Spend floor-time with your child every day.

5. Commercialism.

*Create family traditions that involve giving to those in need.

*Focus on low-cost or no-cost holiday traditions.

*Help keep children's expectations realistic. For example, you might say You'll get about same amount of presents as you did on your birthday.

6. Bills!

*Decide on a holiday budget for entertaining and gifts.

* If credit cards make overspending too easy, stick to cash for holiday purchases.

7. Loss.

* If you have lost a loved one, holidays may intensify your grief. Explore ways to cope at www.griefnet.org/library/articles/hfa-tips.html or www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=FL00055.

*If holiday blues persist or seem particularly intense, don't hesitate to reach out for professional help. Your physician or clergyperson can give you a referral.

8. Post-holiday let-down.

*Spread out fun at least through end of school vacation by planning an outing or a fun time at home for each day.

*Have a party and finish your leftover holiday sweets night before school resumes.

A little forethought and planning can go a long way towards making you glad holidays are coming - instead of just glad when they're over. Your wisdom holds key to holiday joy.

© 2004 Norma Schmidt, Coach, LLC

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