Celebrating the Savior: How to Throw a Birthday Party for Jesus

by Cammie Arn The holidays are upon us. So, the question at hand is: "How do we navigate all the shopping, prepping, and heightened activity during this time of year when it can be so overwhelming?" For families homeschooling children with learning, physical, or mental health challenges, the holiday season can bring additional layers of stress. Whether it's sensory overload, health concerns, unsupportive relatives, or unmet expectations, the challenges can feel relentless. Here are some strategies that worked for our family when daily life was already overwhelming, and the holidays added extra pressure. Simplify Shopping Shop Online and with Catalogs: Skip the crowds and the chaos by shopping from home. Many retailers offer extensive online catalogs and holiday discounts, making it easier to check off your list stress-free. Make It a Teaching Opportunity: Involve your child in gift planning. Let them compare prices, calculate discounts, and practice budgeting. It turns a chore into a learning experience! Enjoy Festive Lights Without the Overload Drive-Through Neighborhoods: Find neighborhoods known for their holiday displays. Enjoy the lights from the comfort of your car, where you can control noise levels and avoid overstimulation. Bring hot chocolate and cookies for a cozy family treat. Sensory-Friendly Options: If your child is sensitive to lights or sounds, look for local drive-through displays that advertise sensory-friendly nights. Create a Calming Holiday Environment Decorate Mindfully: Use soft white lights instead of flashing colored ones. A minimalistic approach can bring peace and beauty without overwhelming anyone. Reusable Wrapping Alternatives: Swap wrapping paper for festive fabric, such as holiday-themed pillowcases or scarves. They’re quieter, reusable, and eco-friendly! Gift Box Strategy: Simplify gift-opening by giving each family member one large box containing all their gifts. This cuts down on chaos and helps the child focus on each gift. Maintain Stability Stick to Your Routine: Keeping a familiar schedule can help prevent meltdowns. While holiday activities are exciting, they can also be disruptive. Strive to keep meals, bedtime, and homeschool lessons consistent. Limit Sugar: Extra treats are tempting, but too much sugar can lead to mood swings and meltdowns. Opt for healthier versions of holiday favorites, or enjoy treats in moderation. Prioritize Rest: Overstimulation and fatigue often go hand in hand. Build downtime into your schedule so your family can recharge. Choose Activities Wisely Pick and Choose: It’s impossible to do everything. Decide as a family what matters most and let go of the rest. Focus on quality over quantity when it comes to holiday activities. Adapt Traditions: If old traditions no longer work due to your child’s needs, create new ones that everyone can enjoy. For example, instead of hosting a large family dinner, consider a cozy night at home with board games and a simple meal. Navigating Family Relationships Prepare for Interactions with Unsupportive Relatives: If relatives don’t understand your child’s needs or your homeschooling lifestyle, have a plan. Set boundaries around topics of discussion or shorten visits if needed. Educate and Advocate: If the opportunity arises, gently explain your child’s unique needs and why your family celebrates in certain ways. You might find allies you didn’t expect. Manage Expectations Let Go of Perfection: The holidays don’t have to be picture-perfect. Focus on creating meaningful moments rather than meeting impossible ideals. Accept What Is: Life is unpredictable, especially when you’re parenting a child with unique challenges. Be flexible and remember that it’s okay to scale back or make last-minute changes. When Things Go Awry Despite the best planning, things can still go wrong. When they do, take a deep breath and remind yourself: Tomorrow is a new day. Every holiday season has its ups and downs, but love and grace can smooth over even the roughest moments. By simplifying, prioritizing, and focusing on what truly matters, you can create a holiday season that brings joy and peace to your family, no matter the challenges you face. Happy Holidays!

by Kimberly A Vogel I opened the door and stepped into a winter wonderland. White, blue, and silver Christmas decorations adorned the house. After days of rushing around and overwhelming holiday stress, I finally felt like I could breathe. Something was comforting in the white. It brought a sense of calm and peace. The term white space repeated in my thoughts and synced to the white lights blinking. I need white space in my life, especially around the holidays. White space, a term writers use, refers to the blank space on a page so the reader isn't bombarded by words. I need a place where I'm not bombarded. I need extra room to move and breathe. Instead of cramming more activities into an already full schedule, I should plan less and leave room for more spur-of-the-moment activities. My thoughts started to create priorities on how I just might be able to incorporate white space into my life to lower my holiday stress. "My holiday did not have peace, and my short temper overshadowed my love." These were the reminders I needed to tell myself. Keep Your Calendar Handy So You Don’t Overbook Do you have a planner? Do you use your phone or paper? What you use isn't as important as actually using it. Overbooking isn't just having two activities at the same time—it's having too many activities in a day or week. Build intentional downtime into your calendar to allow your family and yourself to rest. Say Yes Sparingly In Volunteering: Pray about every opportunity. Only commit to what you have time to do well. It's better to focus on one or two meaningful commitments than say yes to five and only follow through with a few. With Activities: The abundance of fun family events during the holidays can feel overwhelming. However, you shouldn’t feel obligated to attend them all. Make sure whatever you commit to fits into your plan and isn’t too taxing. Consider your family’s unique circumstances: For Young Children: Avoid events during nap time or that require extended periods of stillness. For Children with Learning Challenges: Think through potential sensory issues, overstimulation, or the impact of excess sugar and dietary restrictions. Don’t Operate Out of Guilt, Expectations, or Ideals Expectations run high during the holidays, and as parents, we often set the tone for our families. However, guilt can creep into our decision-making. I'll never forget the year I ran myself ragged to make sure an event happened, only to find I was the only one who wanted it. In hindsight, I realized the importance of that event had been magnified by a childhood memory. Sometimes we have to let go of certain ideals for the sake of our family’s sanity. Focus on Jesus as the Center of Your White Space Back in the beautifully decorated home, I walked into another room where a huge Fontanini nativity display decorated the corner. A village scene centered around the nativity. Then it hit me: THAT is the who of my white space. Jesus came to bring peace, love, and salvation. If He’s not at the center of my white space, then I am just creating voids that attract fillers. White space is only beneficial if it is filled with Jesus, who perfectly fills the void. Making Jesus the center of my white space brings me back to what the holiday season is all about. Additional Suggestions for Taking Stress Out of the Holiday Season for Homeschooling Parents: Simplify Your Homeschool Schedule Consider lightening your curriculum load in December. Focus on holiday-themed activities, crafts, or life skills like cooking and budgeting. Incorporate Flexible Learning Lean into interest-led learning or family projects that allow everyone to work at their own pace without the pressure of meeting rigid academic goals. Outsource When Possible Whether it's asking a family member to help with a specific task, purchasing pre-made meals, or using online resources for lessons, don’t hesitate to delegate or simplify. Create a Quiet Space for Your Child Children with learning challenges often need a break from sensory overload. Set up a quiet, cozy corner in your home where they can retreat with a book or a calming activity. Make Holiday Prep a Family Affair Turn decorating, baking, or gift-wrapping into family learning activities. This not only lightens your load but also provides valuable life skills and creates memorable experiences. Practice Gratitude Together Start or end your day with a short gratitude practice, focusing on the blessings of the season and reinforcing a Christ-centered mindset. What can you do to create white space and Jesus space in your life this holiday season? Comment below and share additional ideas that your family incorporates to keep peace and Christ center in your Christmas celebrations.