Head Off the Winter Blues

As much as I love this time of year, it can also make me a bit crazy. It is not uncommon for me to crash and burn somewhere around the New Year (or shortly thereafter). My goal is to make Christmas as memorable as I can, yet keep it simple. At least simple enough that everyone (mostly me) comes out healthy and sane at the end of it all.  I want to share some fun and practical ideas to head off illness and those pesky Winter Blues. Most, if not all, of these ideas are ones we already know.

Don’t let the cold keep you inside. You and the kiddos need the Sunshine. Try to take a walk or throw everybody outside (including yourself) every day. Our bodies need that sweet sunshine. Where I live (the Ozarks) it might be a balmy 70 or a chilly 22 in December. No matter. A bit of the sunshiny air clears the head and makes this mama a happy girl.

You are what you eat. True story. Be watchful of the family diet. It’s tempted to fill bellies with all those traditional snacks and sweets. I love to munch as much as the next gal, but consider the energy drain with all those high-sugar foods. Your body will thank you.

Keep the Creativity
Alive! I think there is something about making things with your own hands. You don’t have to be Martha. Don’t worry too much about the mess. I love making things for the folks. You can see from the picture above that I started from an early age. These are placemats I made for my Grandma way back in the day. The material came from bits and pieces around the house. I love using things I already have to create something new. I
am trying to instill the same mindset in to my son.

Don’t forget to Give. Find a neighbor, nursing home or elderly neighbor to bless. One of our favorite things is to volunteer at a nursing home. Honestly, it doesn’t feel like we are doing any of the residents any favors. They are are much more a blessing to us. A couple of sweet ladies have adopted Josiah as “their boy.” I can share.

Create your own Book or Movie Club. Choose a topic. Choose an actor. Choose a genre. Have an old movie marathon to fill up those cold winter nights. Introduce your kids to a beloved loved book. Talk. Discuss. Act out your favorite parts. I created a list of old movies to work our way through a few months ago. Makes for and relaxing and uncomplicated Friday night.

Plan a Picnic under the Christmas Tree. Even if it’s just PB&J. That is a personal favorite at our house.

Embrace the Winter. Enjoy the sights and sounds of God’s creation. Set aside the textbooks and dig into something seasonal. Study the formation of snowflakes, hibernating animals or winter birds.   

Take a Break. There is nothing that says you have to keep up the pace.  One of the beauties of homeschool is that we can set our own schedules. A lighter schedule in our house makes things a bit more manageable. And when I say “things,” I mean me!

Say NO to Supermom. Hang the cape in the closet for a little while. There isn’t a Homeschool Mom of the Year award. Can you imagine? How horrible! Something else we would have to all worry about.

I touched on this just a bit the last time I wrote for the Crew Blog. When I was a younger woman I had a terrible car accident that changed my life forever. From time to time I have to remind myself (once again) to put the focus on what really matters. As much as I would love to create a Norman Rockwell Christmas, I just have to do the best I can. It’s important to spend time with my family. To create a stress free environment for their Christmas Season. For us to put Christ first in Christmas and every day of the year. To make memories that will last my son the rest of his life. To Embrace, to Enjoy and Love. 

Rebekah Teague is a homeschooling Mama of one creative and highly-entertaining son. She has been married to The Muffin who is a pastor and a great guy. She resides in the Ozark Mountains and blogs at There Will Be a $5 Charge For Whining.