Stay at Home Mom.com

Associated Press Last updated: Sunday, November 26th, 2006 03:50:30 PM

VATICAN CITY (AP) — It’s the first time a feature film has ever debuted at the Vatican. A crowd of 7,000 attended today’s world premiere of “The Nativity Story,” which depicts the biblical account of events leading up to and surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ. Pope Benedict didn’t attend the screening, but director Catherine Hardwicke said she knows he’s “pretty busy” getting ready for his visit to Turkey this week.

Hardwicke said she doesn’t think “The Nativity Story” will be as controversial as Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.” She hoped her film will help people “see the similarities between religions instead of the differences.” A Vatican official says the film is a needed reminder of the true meaning of Christmas at a time when many are afraid to speak of Jesus or say “Merry Christmas.”

So, how did everyone fair through the first holiday of the holiday season? Thanksgiving decorations have been securely tucked away in a large tupperware box in the basement making way for red and green throughout the house. The relatives that came for four days of fun-filled, more activities than usual days are all safely back in their own homes. And I’m exhausted. I didn’t do any of the cooking and I’m still tired. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because my husband does all of the cooking. I am truly thankful. My job is to set the table. But this year there were 14 and this was a little bigger task requiring the addition of a second table to the dining room area to create the look of one long table. Very Fun.

So, now to continue through the holiday, successfully, with energy we have to employ tactic number 5.

#5: Set Limits

Have some guidelines for yourself during the holidays and stick to it. Decide early on how many activities you will try to fit in on any one day. When our kids were little all I could do was one big activity a day. If we were invited to second activities we would graciously decline and it worked out great.

The kids are teens and tweens now and they all have different activities so this year we are trying to make sure we get in at least one big activity per kid and go from there.

Setting limits is one of recommendations from the experts in helping your child keep being a child even when they are bombarded with adult themes.

Here is a story that inspired the Setting Limits recommendation. More and more young children ( ages 8 to 12 ) are growing up faster than previous generations. The tweens are more like teens.

10 is the new 15

So, set limits for your kids and for yourself and have an even more fun holiday season.

We’re not getting very far on Step 2 so far this weekend. Darling Daughter had cleaned her room and so she asked me to go to the basement and bring up her craft box.  Even though we have company coming in a couple of days, I decided she has earned time with the craft box because she successfully followed Step 4:

Step #4: Put away one project before starting another.

Even if you intend to get back to that project in the same day - try to make the committment to project containment.  Get one of those plastic storage boxes if you have to and keep the daily project in a box that can be filled up and closed when you are not actively working on it.

The holidays are a time when there are lots of distractions.  A well intentioned project can become a mess when friends stop by unexpectedly.

So, this morning when I went to the basement to get the craft box with her projects in it I uncovered another project of mine that I had been meaning to get to and I spent about an hour working on this older, un-time-budgeted project.  I still have to get to those Christmas Cards or move on to the holidays guilt free that there will be no Christmas cards sent out this year.

Our third step in staying strong through the holidays.

Step #3: Prayer.

Some of you are very comfortable with prayer in your lives others are not. Saying grace at the dinner table can be as easy as taking one moment before you all start eating and saying thanks for this food and for those who prepared it and for those who are hear to eat it. We have a tradition of saying prayers with our kids at night as I tuck them in to bed.

For the holidays find a prayer you can say in the morning that inspires you to be the parent and spouse that you want to be. Take time for yourself everyday (even if it is only one minute) to say a prayer - a gratitude - a mantra - whatever you want to call it.

Here is a prayer that my husband and I read out loud together about once every other week and that I read to myself frequently:

A Prayer of Spouses For Each Other

Lord Jesus, Grant that I and my spouse may have a true and understanding love for each other. Grant that we may both be filled with faith and trust. Give us the grace to live with each other in peace and harmony. May we always bear with each other’s weaknesses and grow from each other’s strengths. Help us to forgive one another’s failings and grant us the patience, kindness, and cheerfulness and the spirit of placing the well-being of one another ahead of self.

May the love that brought us together grow and mature with each passing year. Bring us both ever closer to you through our love for each other. Let our love grow to perfection. Amen.