Happy Holidays With The Blended Family?

Below are some strategies to try and make this time easier:

VERY IMPORTANT: Make a shopping list before leaving for the store. Have some idea of what you want to get everyone before you get to the stores, or you'll end up coming home empty-handed, frustrated, and a nervous wreck.

IMPORTANT: Split up the shopping duties. Don't try and do it all yourself. It's not necessary to only buy for 'your' side of the family, but make sure you don't try to do it all, or leave it all up to your partner, step-parent or biological parent.

GOOD IDEA: With modern technology you can do your shopping on line or by mail order. This saves lots of time and you can't find almost anything you need on the internet.

VERY HELPFUL TIP: Don't try to do all your shopping at once. Spread it out over a period of days or even weeks. There's nothing I hate more than running from store to store for hours on end. That quickly leads to short tempers and possible flare-ups at home.

ESSENTIAL: Make sure you give yourself time to relax and take care of yourself. If you don't feel good, you can't make anyone else in your life feel good. Too much stress contributes to illness by lowering your resistance. It's no fun at all to be sick over the holidays.

If you have any other helpful tips for coping with the holidays, please share it with us in the discussion area below -- but most importantly -- remember that it's not all about gift giving -- but the gift of giving yourself to others...

There are so many ways to give..sometimes it only costs you a smile, a phone call, a card -- just to let someone know you care.

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON!

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