Our Favorite New Year Hacks From Yesteryear
As we get closer to the holidays (or are the holidays coming?), It seems like the right time to dive into the holiday mindset, revisiting all the top-notch advice we’ve given in the past.
These five time-honored tricks are sure to help you get through the holiday season without injury or peace.
1. How to survive your child’s holiday concert
You might not think you need this advice at all, but it’s only because you haven’t read the post yet:
You will soon receive an email asking for your presence at a secular solstice celebration, a joint celebration, or a good old instrumental cacophony. You won’t go because you want to, but because it’s part of the deal. The kids worked so hard !!!! They are so happy to perform for you !!!!!
It may be true, but if your kid doesn’t go to fame school, it sucks. Here’s how to turn a brief grief into a lasting memory.
2. You must protect your holiday decor from children.
You probably know you need to do this, but did you know that mistletoe and holly are poisonous? Not?? Then read this :
The most beautiful time of the year is also a terribly dangerous time of the year, judging by the 15,000 holiday-decorating injuries reported annually by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Parents should take extra care when bringing out their inner Buddy Elf on Santa’s Eve – everything looks lively and edible to young children and can be played with .
3. Add some free space to your family’s holiday calendar now.
We’re here to help you resist the urge to do whatever you might do on the holiday.
Party invitations are pouring in. Here comes the Nutcracker. That white elephant party with the neighbors. An ugly sweater. Good luck for your child’s basketball team. Breakfast with Santa Claus. Damn, did you forget Aunt Mildred’s gingerbread workshop?
Hey: before you go any further, grab your calendar now and add some free space . Days when you have to go nowhere, do absolutely nothing and see no one.
4. How to deal with racist relatives at a gala dinner.
Look, we really hope you don’t have racist relatives, but statistically, some of you do. Maybe this will help .
The best part about getting together with your family for the holidays is meeting loved ones you haven’t seen since last year. It’s great to hear about your sister’s new job, watch the kids play with their cousins, and grit your teeth at the horrific comments of racist relatives. Okay, wait – it’s actually not very fun. In fact, it can be quite frustrating and depressing.
How to fight, you ask? Depending on your goals, you have four options .
5. Give your child a gift certificate for Christmas, not the pet itself.
I know I know. It sounds less funny, but from a logistics point of view, this is the best move .
While it’s not that exciting (and definitely not that good for a Facebook video), those who are confident they want to give their child a pet can give them a gift certificate that covers the fees for adopting a pet at a local shelter or rescue group. (You can place it in a pet carrier or crate to make it look more real.) The San Diego Animal Welfare Society recommends doing this to “actively involve prospective pet parents in the selection process.”
With more time, you and your child can study behaviors, habits, energies, compatibility with other animals, and enrichment needs in different pets and breeds to figure out which one is best for your family.