Thriving Through the Holidays: You've Got This Mama!

"Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas."
- Dale Evans

The most wonderful time of year is almost upon us. If you're feeling a little less than jolly, we're here to help! This season we would like to encourage you and provide you with plenty of creative ideas to make your holidays extra special. The truth is...you, dear mama, don't need a man, a partner, or a spouse (or even tons of cash) to make the holidays magical and memorable for your kids. All you really need is what you already have - love in your heart and a little sprinkle of adventure. There are so many things to do for kids of all ages! 

50 Holiday Traditions You Can Start in 2021 (pick a few that speak to you)!

Holiday Bedtime Stories - Wrap 24 Christmas books in wrapping paper and place the books under the tree. Each night, starting on Dec. 1, allow your kids to pick and unwrap one book that you read to them before bedtime. If you don't have a large collection of holiday books (or the time or desire to wrap), no problem! Head over to kcedventures.com. There you will find free online Christmas books and read-aloud stories for the holidays. 

Make homemade Christmas cardsfor local nursing home residents or patients in the hospital. With only paper, markers and a little creativity, you can put a big smile on many faces.

If it snows in your area, bundle up and take full advantage of those winter wonderland activities - making snow angels, building a snowman or snow fort, sledding, tubing, skiing, or ice skating. If snow is rare or even non-existent where you live, or you simply prefer staying warm indoors, there are still snowy options for you! Here's how you can make your own snow or snow globe.

Get matching pajamas. As the holidays start approaching, you can find great sale prices. Buy early so you can cozy up and coordinate all December long. 

Spend a night looking at Christmas lights. Pick the neighborhood(s) with the most over-the-top displays and be absolutely delighted by the joy that overzealous decorating provides! If you're not sure where to go, check with family and friends or even ask for a recommendation on social media. To make it even more festive, consider wearing Christmas pajamas, bringing thermoses of warm hot chocolate and having special treats like donuts. Also, check out your local zoos, botanical gardens, and parks for additional opportunities for both drive-through and walk-through Christmas displays.  

Make decorating the tree an event. Sip cider or cocoa, play Christmas music, wear your favorite ugly holiday sweaters, put on your festive fuzzy slippers and make it special. If your kiddos are little, save turning on the lights for the end and have a memorable tree lighting ceremony. Those sweet little youngsters will enthusiastically cheer and give you plenty of worthwhile "Oohs" and "Aahs" - it'll be adorable! 

Have a Christmas campout; family bonding holiday style! Grab your sleeping bag, air mattress, cushions, blankets, pillows (whatever you have) and fall asleep with your kids under the warm glow of the tree. You might not get the most comfortable sleep of your life, but your kids will surely love it.

Teach your kids about giving back. Ask and/or help your kids gather the gently used items they no longer need or use so those items can be donated - - toys they don't play with, books they don't read, shoes and clothes they've outgrown. You can make it more festive and fun by placing a decorated box or a special sack (think Santa's big red bag) under the tree for them to place their items in. 

Gather canned goods and personal hygiene products for those less fortunate. You can begin by cleaning out your pantry and if your budget allows, adding to your donation by purchasing additional items. Take your kids with you and let them choose some items they think other families would enjoy receiving.

Decorate a gingerbread house or gingerbread cookies. As your kids get older and a little more competitive you can turn it into an annual decorating contest.

Elf on the Shelf - While it can be tedious to keep up with, kids absolutely love it! You can find countless shenanigans online for your elf, everything from quick and simple to extravagant and complex. Do what works for you without it feeling like a burden. 

Christmas Village - Each year have your kids pick 1-2 little buildings or accessories (homes, shops, trees, etc.) to create a village. It will be so fun to add to your collection throughout the years (be sure to date the pieces for annual reminiscing). Not into villages? That's okay! Start a collection of whatever you like - nutcrackers, Santa figurines, snowmen, etc.

Indulge in Christmas movie nights.This is such an easy, relaxing and enjoyable way to spend time with your kids. Christmas movies often warm our hearts, lift our spirits and make us laugh. Add Christmas PJs, fuzzy socks, hot chocolate and favorite snacks.

Each year choose one ornament for each of your kids. Select something that represents them or their current interests (sports, hobbies, favorite character, etc.). Allow small children to place their ornament on the tree themselves; they'll be so excited! If it's not already included on the ornament, be sure to add their name and the year. Each holiday season when you pull out decorations, you'll love reminiscing over old ornaments. Another great idea is to find photo ornaments and place your child's school picture inside. When your sweet babies grow into adults, give them all of their ornaments to hang on their own trees.  

Create an annual photo card to send to loved ones. With a few easy steps, you can create an annual Christmas card to let your friends and family know you're thinking of them. Added bonus: you can save a few cards as a special memento for years to come. 

If your kids are little, don't forget the classic tradition of writing a letter to Santa. Letters can be mailed to 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888. These days even the tiniest of tykes are tech-savvy, so you can also opt for getting in touch with Saint Nick via the Portable North Pole App which allows Santa to send a personalized video message or just text him with Santa's Magic Phone Call & Text App. He'll respond! 

Go caroling or host a sing-along at home. YouTube makes it super easy and fun with instrumental Christmas music and lyrics. You can find all the classics you love. For family that won't be home for the holidays, sing to them via Zoom, Google Meet or Facetime. They'll love it! 

Have a family game night. Play regular board games that you already have or incorporate holiday-themed games. You can find a list of 12 family-friendly Christmas minute to win it games here. 

Make homemade ornaments. There are tons of awesome ideas on Pinterest. Remember to include your child's name and the year. The simple, sweet, homemade ornaments often become the most cherished, so start creating! If you're not sure where to begin, try salt dough ornaments. You can whip these up with just a few basic ingredients (flour, salt and water). 

Have a family coloring night. Busy nights and expensive purchases aren't necessary to make wonderful memories. Slow down and enjoy an evening of family coloring. Grab an inexpensive holiday coloring book or use free online printables. Listen to your favorite Christmas tunes as you enjoy this peaceful and relaxing activity with your kids. 

Countdown to Christmas with an Advent calendar. Make your own or purchase one with a theme your kids will look forward to opening each day. If you're ready to craft a calendar yourself, check out these 15 ideas.

Brighten up a soldier's time away from home by writing a letter. The Red Cross Holidays for Heroes can help you find the perfect pen pal. This is such a sweet way to send holiday cheer. If your kiddos are small, colored pictures and drawings are a cute option to include with your letter.    

Hang small stockings filled with goodies on your neighbors' doorknobs. This is an easy and fun way to spread kindness and cheer. If you get "caught" by a doorbell camera, just smile and say, "Merry Christmas!" and then make a quick getaway. 

Identify someone your family knows that might be struggling this time of year. Brainstorm ways to encourage that person with 1-2 thoughtful things you'll do to lift their spirits this holiday season.

Dollar Store Sibling Gift Exchange - When it comes to gifting, the thought matters most (and hey...most of us need to stick to a budget) so round up the kiddos and give them a few dollars to spend on gifts for their siblings. 

Hide the Christmas pickle ornament. This somewhat silly tradition has a tendency to bring smiles and giggles (and maybe intense competition as your kids grow). Just purchase an inexpensive pickle ornament and hide it somewhere on the tree. On Christmas morning, the person that finds the pickle first gets to open the first present. 

Perform a few RACKs - Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. You can choose to bless those you know or complete strangers. Your acts of kindness can range from super simple (like leaving a treat in the mailbox for your mail carrier) to "candy cane bombing" an entire parking lot (placing a candy cane and a cheery note on the windshield of parked cars). 

Bake and decorate Christmas cookies. If you're short on time, opt for fresh-baked sugar cookies from your local grocery store or use refrigerated cookie dough and a can of frosting. It gets the job done and your kids won't mind at all! 

While cookies get most of the glory around the holidays, there are lots of other options too. Don't limit yourself to just cookies; create an annual tradition of making other tasty treats too - peppermint bark, fudge, caramel turtles, snack mixes and more. 

Attend a local Christmas parade, festival, or tree lighting ceremony. Most areas offer these types of festive events. If you can't find one, attend a Christmas concert or play instead. 

Christmas around the world - As your children get a little older they might enjoy researching different holiday traditions celebrated around the world. See if they're willing to try some new foods or customs. 

Allow your kids to have their own little Christmas tree in their room. You can find very affordable mini ornaments and decorations or make your own. There's something special and magical about having your very own tree! 

Want, Wear, Need, Read - Sometimes the materialistic aspects of the holiday overshadow its true meaning (and sometimes your budget needs a break). If you'd like to simplify things this year, consider giving four gifts to each child: something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read.

Breakfast with Santa - many local communities offer this special annual tradition. If your kids are a little apprehensive of meeting jolly old Saint Nicholas, this could be a great opportunity for them to see the big guy from a distance they are more comfortable with. 

All aboard for an at-home Polar Express party! If your Christmas decorations are already up, that's a bonus and adds to the ambiance (but if not, that's more than okay). A few extra things to make it more fun - wear pajamas (just like the kids in the movie do), make admission tickets, enjoy hot chocolate and snacks and give the kiddos jingle bell bracelets or necklaces to wear (available at Dollar Tree). If you want to add even more special touches, give your kids a little toy train to hold/play with during the movie and when it's over make a movie-themed "believe" ornament. Here's how. 

Ring the Salvation Army Bell. The holiday season is a time for giving, not just of your finances, but of your time. Gather up the kids and make a difference in your own community! When it comes to bell ringing outside of a store, make it eventful. You can play Christmas music, dress in holiday gear and make signs. The cheerier and more festive you are, the more likely people are to donate. Other wonderful volunteer opportunities can be found at your local homeless shelter, soup kitchen, food bank and animal shelter. 

Deliver treats to someone at work. It's easy to forget that many people have to work the holidays. Take a meal or sweet treats to those working at a 24-hour store, the fire department, hospital, etc. The recipients of your kindness will be delighted with your thoughtfulness. 

Allow your kids to open one gift on Christmas Eve. This is a tradition all ages are sure to love. 

Watch the same movie every Christmas Eve. From Elf to A Christmas Story to Home Alone, there are so many fantastic holiday movies to choose from. You'll likely find yourself and your kids looking forward to this simple tradition more than you'd think. 

Use the Santa Tracker to follow along as Santa makes his magical journey across the world. Your kids will be impressed by how fast he moves! 

Leave treats for Santa and his trusty reindeers too! Add some carrots to Santa's plate of cookies or create a reindeer snack mix out of rolled oats, colorful sprinkles and glitter. Place the mix in a Ziploc bag and sprinkle it on your front lawn before the littles go to bed on Christmas Eve.  

Enjoy a special breakfast on Christmas morning, something the whole family will rave about. There are tons of mouth-watering recipes online and plenty of hearty casseroles that can be assembled the night before and just popped into the oven on Christmas morning. Click here for 25 easy, kid-friendly, delectable Christmas breakfast ideas.

Take a Christmas morning family photo. We're making memories, mom - so smile big in your holiday jammies and crazy hair! Grab a seat in front of the tree and put the camera on a self-timer. These could quite possibly become some of your favorite (and maybe laughable) photos to look back on. 

Looking specifically for a few faith-based Christmas traditions? We've got some of those too!

Make a birthday cake for Jesus. Bake and decorate the cake together, sing Happy Birthday and let the kids blow out the candles. 

Read the Christmas Story in the Bible. In the second chapter of Luke, the story of the birth of Jesus is told in verses 1-20. 

Participate in Operation Christmas Child. Their mission is to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to children in need around the world. You simply fill a shoebox with suggested items (toys, hygiene products, and school supplies) for kids ranging in age from 2-14, include a note and photo and you're good to go. You can even build a box online.

Purchase a gift from an Angel Tree. Many churches (and even stores and community organizations) participate in this program. An Angel Tree looks a lot like other Christmas trees, but instead of traditional ornaments, it is decorated with gift requests for those in need. 

Attend a live nativity display or set up a nativity scene in your home. Having a nativity scene at home is a great reminder to remember and respect the traditional values of the Christmas celebration. 

Attend Christmas Eve services at church. Christmas Eve services are typically filled with encouraging and uplifting messages of hope. Additionally, they often include Christmas carols, the lighting of candles and communion.

Prayer of gratitude - Before you open any presents on Christmas morning, say a prayer of gratitude for everything you've been blessed with and the most wonderful gift of all, the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. 

That's a long list for sure, but we wanted to give you options. However, there's no pressure here at Single Mother Goddess. Simply pick a few ideas that seem easy, affordable and enjoyable and go for it!

It's never too early or too late to start a new tradition and you don't have to knock yourself out to make the holidays magical. Adding just a few of these activities will touch the hearts of your beloved children and create cherished memories to last a lifetime. For many of us, our moms did the same - made our Christmas season magical just by being there and creating fun annual traditions with us. 

Your kids don't need perfection or the priciest of presents, they won't remember those things anyway. What they will remember and cherish are the special moments and traditions that you, sweet mama, lovingly created for them.

We'd love to continue to support and encourage you on your parenting journey. Join our email list and you'll be notified when new posts are uploaded. You can also find us on Instagram. 

Happiest of Holidays!