We all know that the holiday season is both the most charming time of the year and the most stressful.
From heated political debates with family to overbooked calendars at end-of-the-year holiday parties, this time of year can be confusing for everyone.
Moms With a Mic’s Julia Bagg caught up with Kid Create Studio owner Kenerly Wright and marriage and family therapist Monica Snyder to discuss simple strategies for staying mentally healthy this holiday season .
According to Snyder, it’s all in the planning.
“I’ve already started thinking about the next 6 weeks or so. I’ve already started buying and wrapping presents so that Christmas Eve doesn’t turn into a crazy night,” Snyder said. It’s easier to say no to things that don’t really matter and cause more stress and the holidays he doesn’t enjoy the holiday season. ”
By planning your activities in advance and buying your tickets in advance for many holiday events, not only can you make the season less stressful, but you can also save a few bucks in the process.
“Brightline just launched the Polar Express for the holiday season,” said Wright.So it’s really helping our plans and helping our pockets too.”
Snyder also says that one way to make the holiday season more enjoyable is to have a clear conversation with your family about what the holiday season will be like, the timing of events, and any special needs that need to be met during this time. It also suggests that it is about sharing expectations.
“The Internet has allowed us to have really idealistic expectations of the holidays,” says Snyder. “Placing these expectations out there will go a long way in helping the family to be able to meet them.”
If discussions with family members become heated or difficult, Snyder recommends a practice she called “pressure release.” A time to pause and disperse the situation without adding pressure or intensity to the situation.
“We as a society are so inspired by people and what they’re saying, rather than being able to stop and listen,” Snyder said. We have already guessed what they are going to say and where they are going and we feel we need to respond, whereas we just have to stop and listen , if I can figure out where they are” and I was able to listen calmly, so whether I agree or disagree, I can actually have a pleasant conversation. ”
Wright pointed out that it’s also important to remember.
“You really have to think about why you’re there, it’s family time,” Wright said. What do we show them by the way we talk to each other and how we engage with each other?“
By staying calm and setting clear boundaries during the holidays, communication between relatives can become more fluid and less stressful.
But despite the hustle and bustle of the season, one thing that can add to the craziness is involving kids in holiday cooking.
Bagg, Snyder, and Wright stepped into the kitchen this season to share simple, delicious recipes you can make with your kids this holiday season. Remember, chaos is all part of the fun.
Julia’s Easy Green Bean Casserole
material:
- 1 can (about 10 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 3/4 cup milk
- 4 cups cooked kidney beans (fresh, frozen, or canned)
- 1-1/2 cups fried onions
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Combine broth, milk, salt, and pepper in a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish
- Stir in 1 cup of beans and fried onions
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot
- mix
- Top with remaining 1/2 cup of onion
- Bake for 5 minutes or until onions are golden brown
Wright family pizza recipe
material:
- Freshly Baked Pizza Dough – The Wrights typically purchase dough from Publix, folded in the open refrigerator in the bakery department. (I recommend letting this sit at room temperature for an hour or so before you start preparing it.)
- 3-4 oz.of pasta sauce
- 8 oz. Fresh mozzarella (balls or pearls) per pie
- Meat topping (as much as you like)
- Vegetable toppings of your choice (chopped or diced mushrooms, bell peppers (any color), jalapenos, red or white onions, spinach, tomatoes)
- For the crust: butter, garlic powder, dry Italian seasoning
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 415 degrees
- Roll out the folded dough into a nonstick pizza mold
- Use a fork to poke small holes in the dough to prevent air bubbles from forming
- Use a basting brush to spread the pasta sauce evenly over the dough
- Then add the meat. * It is better to put it under the cheese rather than on top of it.
- put cheese all over the pie
- Add vegetables on top of the pizza on top of the cheese
- Roll the edges of the pizza inwards to form a crust.
- Then use a pastry brush to coat the crust with butter.
- Sprinkle garlic powder and dry Italian seasoning over the skin. *You can also add this dry seasoning on top of your pizza for extra flavor
- Finally, place the pizza in the middle of the oven for 12-15 minutes.
- Let the pizza cool for 5 minutes.
- fun!
Information about special diets: You can substitute the crust for a gluten-free dough and skip the meat for a delicious veggie pizza pie.
The Snyder family’s apple cider donut recipe (Courtesy of Raddish Kids)
material:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup apple cider
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
topping:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
- Spray the donut molds (if using individual silicones, place them on a baking sheet).
- Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon in a medium bowl.
- Heat the butter in a microwave-safe bowl until melted
- Crack the eggs into a bowl and whisk until smooth
- Add the brown sugar, apple cider, vanilla and melted butter to the eggs and whisk to combine.
- Mix wet and dry ingredients
- Fill donut mold until almost full
- Bake for 15-17 minutes
- Heat remaining butter until melted
- mix sugar and cinnamon
- Turn the mold over and take out the donut
- Dip both sides in butter and then sprinkle with sugar before serving.
