ELEVATE YOUR END-OF-YEAR HOLIDAYS The end-of-year holidays are festive but famously stressful, with fighting crowds and busting budgets. Here are five ideas to elevate your holidays by embracing new, simple family traditions. Shop-Local Friday Avoid door-busting Black Friday crowds by shopping locally. Visit nearby shops as a family and try out their offerings. Or stay even closer to home by gamifying Black Friday into an online scavenger hunt. Make a shopping list and see who can find the best deals on each item. Go Hunting Outdoors Work off that Thanksgiving meal by visiting a nearby park or trail for a hike and scavenger hunt. Give each family member a list of items to find. Small children might look for a pinecone or sparkly rock, while teens could hunt for a bird’s nest or a particular tree species. Your kids will learn about nature while enjoying some adventurous competition. Friendsgiving If you are not overwhelmed by relatives during Thanksgiving, consider letting your children plan their own Friendsgiving celebration. This relatively new holiday has become a popular way to relax with your besties, and hosting a kids’ version can help children strengthen social ties. Serve Thanksgiving leftovers or let the kids plan the menu.
Year-End Gift Fest Three gift-giving holidays — Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa — all fall near the end of December this year. Consider making gifts rather than buying them. Purchase supplies for a crafting or baking session and encourage your kids to create keepsakes or treats for loved ones, such as beaded jewelry, photo albums, trinket trays, original storybooks, artwork, cookies, or candy. Your kids will see that many recipients value their effort in making gifts more than the money spent on purchased ones. A Year of Memories The year’s end is a time to remember special people and events. Decorate a glass Memory Jar and ask each family member to recall a few favorite happenings or activities from the past year. Record each one on a slip of paper, drop them into the Memory Jar, make it the centerpiece for a family meal, and take turns pulling out and reading each other’s memories. This simple ritual can spark plenty of fun, plus warm conversations about the abundance that families share.
When I read that the first Thursday in November is National Men Make Dinner Day, I could not help but laugh. While I do not make dinner all that often, I definitely do it more than once a year! Let us be real — I am not the head chef in our house by any means, but I do like to challenge myself in the kitchen now and then. And hey, if nothing else, I can at least order a pizza from Domino’s, right? Growing up, my dad was a pastor, and my mom was a housewife. That was the traditional setup back in the 60s and 70s. But today, most families have two working parents, meaning dinner is a team effort. These days, the conversation in our house is less, “What is for dinner?” and more, “Should I grab something on the way home, or should we just order takeout?” WHY EVERY GUY SHOULD TRY COOKING DINNER
Step Up to the Plate!
But, guys, we should step up! Even if we are not the best cooks, taking on dinner duty from time to time is worthwhile. Dinner duty might not be your strong suit, but trust me, preparing dinner is a great way to contribute and can even be a lot of fun. You can even help by setting up the table, preparing beverages, or cleaning up afterward!
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Dennis & Lisa Jones
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