It is no secret that women shoulder most of the work that goes into the Christmas cheer in the season. To keep yourself sane, and increase your enjoyment of this special time of year, make sure your pass of some of those duties to your husband, and even your children. They will find themselves more involved and excited about Christmas, your family will spend more quality time together, and there will be more time left over to sit around the fire.
Jobs Your Husband Will Enjoy and Excel at:
- The Tree. What man doesn't feel more manly with a toque and a handsaw cutting down a spruce tree out in the snow? Make it your husband's job to see the tree through from chopping to installing watering.
- The Outdoor Lights. While you're baking the sugar cookies, hand your husband the tangled box of red and green bulbs and wires.... send him out from underfoot to deal with the ladder and lights, and send the children out to help hand things up to him. Heck, they can do the door wreath and shovel the walk while they're at it!
- The Eggnog. If he fancies himself a bar-tender, set him to work at the family gatherings by putting him in charge of the guest's refreshments... eggnog, hot toddies, and maybe a martini all around!
- Hanging the Stockings. While you and the kids set out the cookies and milk for Santa, get your husband to do the hanging. He'll know just where the hooks are from last year.
Jobs you're children will love, and Christmas memories they'll cherish.
- The Wrapping. It's like craft time in school - tape and scissors, markers, ribbons and colored paper! Set up a wrapping station and let them go to town on all the presents for the extended family. Encourage them to get creative with handmade To/From tags, bows and ribbons, and they'll be busy for hours.... and they'll love holding the secrets of knowing who's getting what!
- The Baking. Enlist your children's help with your Christmas baking by letting them choose their favorite recipes, measure out the flour and sugar, and taste test the products. You'll have fun spending the evening in the cheerful kitchen together, and they'll remember with fondness "mom's fruitcake recipe" when their doing Christmas baking with their own children one day.
- The Tree Decorating. Another fun craft-time opportunity. Pull out the glue and felt and sequins, and let the kids design their own ornaments. Perhaps choose a theme for the tree, and dress it up all with snowflakes and snowmen, or Santa's and elves.
