A Guide to Making the Holidays Memorable for the Small Family

Happily, the term 'family unit' today encompasses any number of sizes and variations. I have always thought of my own immediate family as that of a 'small' family unit: my husband, my self and our two (now teenaged) daughters. We have lived in a rural area of New Jersey for over a dozen years; during that time, we struggled with the question of how (and with whom) to celebrate the holiday season. 

My husband's family lived over a four hour drive away; my own family, at least a two hour drive away. In addition of having to struggle with the question of whose family to visit when and for how long, I also happen to be married to a genuine homebody. My husband has always, always preferred that we stay "at home" for the holidays, "at home" being wherever we happened to be residing at the time.

You also may have found yourself in a similar predicament. How can you make the holidays merry when you can't, won't or don't share them with close relatives? Again over the years, we have worked, organized and meticulously detailed out a series of events and activities that help keep the joy in 'joyous', that can help ease the sting of not spending the holidays with your parents and other loved ones far away.

Step #1 - Once you know that you won't be traveling or having guests for the holidays, get out your notebook! It is quite important that you put your 'game plan' into writing. You'll need to be organized if you want things to actually HAPPEN; thinking about them or reading about them just doesn't cut it.

Step #2 - Scour your local newspapers - all of them! - for upcoming holiday activities. Search the web as well for activities located within a certain distance of your home, too. You're looking for activities and events that the entire family can enjoy, that won't break the bank, and that give you a sense of the holiday spirit. Start searching at least three weeks before the holidays, earlier if you know that 'home for the holidays' will mean pretty much where you're sitting right now!