How to Have the “Perfect” Christmas

Written by Kimberly Chastain


Continued from page 1

6.Start a tradition of celebrating Jesus birthday. Ex. Happy Birthday Jesus cake, readingrepparttar Christmas story before opening presents, or children having their own child size Nativity set to play with and tellrepparttar 126483 Christmas story.

7.Set a limit on Christmas spending and stick to it. Don’t celebrate Jesus’ birth by being in debt in January.

8.Take time to pray and think aboutrepparttar 126484 most precious gift of all. Often our quiet times arerepparttar 126485 first to go when we get so busy. Using an advent calendar with children will also help them focus onrepparttar 126486 true meaning of Christmas.

9.Be kind to yourself. You may not be able to do everything like your Mom did. Perhaps you can make slice-and-bake cookies with your children instead of homemade cookie dough. Your children will rememberrepparttar 126487 fun of decorating cookies, not who maderepparttar 126488 cookie dough.

10.Remember that you are not superwoman and you can’t do it all. Sit down with your husband and decide who can do what on your list. Children can help put stamps on Christmas cards. Be kind to yourself and rest in our Savior’s loving arms.

I don’t know if you or I will haverepparttar 126489 “Perfect” Christmas, but we can make a conscious effort to focus on our Lord. Things will go wrong and we will get stressed, but we need to keep our eyes on Him. We need to show and teach our children that Christmas is not about Santa and receiving gifts. Christmas is aboutrepparttar 126490 ultimate gift that we can never repay.

So, I wish you a “Perfect” Christmas with Christ’ birth as your focus, and that you would be kind to yourself. Set reasonable expectations for yourself and experiencerepparttar 126491 true joy of Christmas.

Kimberly Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian Working Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She was recently featured in the book the Myth of the Perfect Mother. She is the author of “Help, I Just Can’t Say No” and Pearls of Encouragement for Christian Working Moms. To schedule a free, initial coaching session send an email to free@kimberlychastain.com or visit http://www.christianworkingmom.com.


“Renee’s Mommy is Here”

Written by Kimberly Chastain


Continued from page 1
joy in all our many identities. I love being Renee and Zachary’s Mom. There is great joy in watching them grow and learn about God and His world. I also thoroughly enjoy my work as a professional coach and therapist. Work provides me great satisfaction. Christian Working Moms often receive a lot of support and encouragement from co-workers. As Christian wives we give and receive companionship, support, and passion (when we pencil it in) with our husbands. Our work at church and school also gives care and comfort for others. We often receiverepparttar greater blessing when we work at church or at our children’s school.

As a fellow Christian Working Mom I celebrate and applaud all our different roles. Variety in our roles often allows us to manage turmoil in any one area of our lives. The other parts of our lives seem to compensate forrepparttar 126482 difficult times and help us to maintain balance. I encourage you to rejoice in all God has given you and your many different roles.

Oh, byrepparttar 126483 way if we meet virtually or in person I’ll answer to Kimberly, Renee’s Mommy, Zachary’s Mommy ..........

Kimberly Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian Working Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She was recently featured in the book the Myth of the Perfect Mother. She is the author of “Help, I Just Can’t Say No” and Pearls of Encouragement for Christian Working Moms. To schedule a free, initial coaching session send an email to free@kimberlychastain.com or visit http://www.christianworkingmom.com.


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