“Pop guns! And bicycles! Rollerskates! Drums! Checkerboards! Tricycles! Popcorn! And Plumbs!”
- Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Christmas morning is utter chaos.
When you're a kid, chaos is brilliant. It's like watching a great action movie starring YOU.
As a mom, chaos is thine enemy. And this year, slay it you will.
Calm The Christmas Morning Chaos With This Make-The-Night-Before Breakfast
Make Christmas morning easy by putting out the following supplies with your milk and cookies on Christmas Eve:
1) Three big, black, garbage bags
Be ready to catch the non-recyclable wrapping that will fly around the living room. Have everyone pitch in as they unwrap. The most tidy child gets to eat the Santa cookie crumbs.
2) Three clear recycling bags
Thankfully, most gift-wrap is recyclable. Keep stuffing your blue-bin bags as you go. This prevents your floor from looking like the streets after the Santa Claus Parade when the crowds shuffle off.
3) Your "thank you" chart
Don’t be caught off guard when Great Aunt Ida calls to ask how Child #4 liked their present. The chaos of Christmas morning won’t prevent you from being polite if you keep track of who got what. This means you can continue to operate on brain-autopilot until the coffee is served.
4) A "New Life" basket
Let’s call it the “new life” basket, instead of the “re-gifting” bag. We all know it can happen; don’t feel badly. There is someone out there who will love the miniature thatched Peruvian hut more than you do, so don’t deny them that joy. Put the items that need “new life” into a separate bag for your gifting cupboard.
5) Gift wrap box
The re-usable Christmas bags, bows, and wrapping goes directly into my Christmas wrapping box for next year. I’ve survived this entire season having only purchased a roll of tape. Re-using saves you time, money, and frustration!
6) One present basket per family member
Transporting the Christmas “loot” to everyone’s respective spaces shouldn’t be your project for the day. Everyone can load and unload their basket of presents. See below for an important rule.
Why Your Family Needs A Crap Basket
AFTER BREAKFAST
So, you’ve had a delicious breakfast. Now what?
To reduce clutter, give yourself a one-in, one-out rule when you are putting away your loot. If you got a new sweater, out goes an old one. For three new board games, three used ones need to be set aside.
For this, have a…
7) Donation box
Set it aside, and fill it as you go.
With a little bit of preparation, Christmas morning can be calm, relaxing, and can even help you clear out clutter. Merry Christmas to all of you. Enjoy your families, your friends, and all of life’s joy this holiday.
“Welcome, Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos far and near. Christmas Day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand.”
- Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas
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