3 Ways to Keep Christmas Simple as A Big Family 


For many years as young Christian parents we chose not to do Christmas presents at all. Just a little stocking and a birthday cake for Jesus to keep things simple.  We grew up with Western cultural Christmases filled with Santa stories, lots of presents under the tree and tons of sugar.  For all the good memories there was also palpable stress from all the work, prep, cleaning, food, cost, etc.  Once we chose to trust God with our family size, our craving for simplicity and budget sanity grew with each child. Now that we are blessed with eleven children, I love how simple, budget friendly and calm our Christmas is. All because of three principles I’ve developed over the years.

1. Budget: I’ve learned the hard way that a single income only stretches so far until the credit card bill comes due in January. To keep things simple we set our budget per child and only do stockings and three gifts under the tree reminiscent of those the Wise Men bore. A bronze-tier gift that is usually something small and practical like warm socks. A silver-tier gift that is more hobby related or a new book. Finally, a gold-tier gift that I am 99% certain will be a delight to each child.  I keep notes on my phone year-round as ideas come to mind to make shopping easier and happily do most of it with direct shipping. My husband and I only do one ‘open-me-last’ gift for each other. Last, we take our time opening gifts one at a time so that I can enjoy the kid's reactions.  With a family of thirteen, it still takes two hours. Unless you like a gift-opening frenzy. Then it can be over in five minutes.

 

2. Declutter: Each Christmas season presents (pardon the pun!) a golden opportunity to make space in your home for some of the new things coming in. Try as I may to keep relatives from going overboard with gift giving, some people are very generous and give each child tons more than they want or need. After the holidays we often do a light thinning to re-gift or donate things I or the children don’t want. Prior to the Christmas break, I get the children to sort out their “stuff” drawers and bins with the added motivation to make room for their gifts. My simple declutter system works like a charm every time whether it’s an entire room or just a drawer.

 

3. Boundaries: In years past, we would rush the kids to hurry up and finish opening things so we could get to extended families’ homes for a Christmas Day meal. It was hectic and often had us coming home past the younger children’s bedtimes. The kids would be cranky, full of sugar, and glazed over from so many gifts to open. It didn’t sit well with us so we chose to simply decline the invitation and stay home on the 25th. We can get together with friends and family on other days over the holiday week, make new traditions, and show our children that simplicity can be created with boundaries. 

It’s taken a few years to get here and now that I’ve arrived I am so grateful. I have special memories from the early years when we were just figuring things out–mostly through a LOT of trial & error.  I am genuinely looking forward to a quiet Christmas this year with space in my heart for the Lord and space in my home for the gifts that will come. Three from us and all those God will send in the form of friends, family, and the gifts they can’t help but give. 

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