It’s the most wonderful time of year! 

Christmas is rapidly approaching. Christmas lights line the streets.  There are baby Jesus’ in mangers all over the place. Peppermint Mochas flow like rivers. How could this not be a great time for families?! Every year, we head into the Christmas season with hopes of making it the best Christmas ever. But after all the packages have been opened and all of the egg nog consumed, we are left feeling disappointed and a bit empty. How can we get the most out of this Christmas, without the disappointment? Here are a couple of thoughts:

There are a thousand different things to do and see at Christmas. There are parties and plays and parades. That’s the good news. The bad news is that you can’t see them all. If you try, you will be exhausted and your family will become more irritable as each day passes. The best way to enjoy some special moments this Christmas is to choose your moments deliberately. Say “yes” to some things and “no” to others. It’s hard to enjoy a moment, when you have 10 other special moments planned in the next two hours.Slow down. Make space to be where you are without feeling the need to rush someplace else. Sometimes the most memorable moments occur when you have nothing planned at all.

We all have a perfect Christmas in mind. Everyone is getting along. Christmas dinner is cooked to perfection. The kids enjoy each gift more than the last, inexpressible joy streaming from their faces. A light snow falls outside the window while you enjoy the perfect cup of hot chocolate. Every ornament is in place. Every light twinkles, and all is right with the world.

As a writer, I never want to make guarantees. Few things in life are guaranteed. But here’s one: this Christmas will not be perfect. Your dog will tear ornaments from the tree. The pumpkin pies will burn. Your husband will wear his 15 year old pair of pajama pants with the unfortunately placed hole in them to the tree on Christmas morning, providing Christmas sights that no one wants to see. Christmas will not be perfect, but it can be wonderful. Remember, ordinary is ok. Embrace this season, imperfections and all. Expect things to go wrong and don’t let them derail your attitude or enjoyment of the people around you. The sooner you give up on perfection, the sooner you can enjoy each day for what it is.

This Christmas doesn’t have to be a disappointment for your family. Slow down and enjoy every moment as best you can. Be thankful for those in your life and be mindful of those who have no one. Take time to tell the ones you love that you love them, and have a wonderfully ordinary Christmas!