Information center: the holidays
Christmas Tree Safety
- Place trees away from heat sources.
- Prevent dryness by cutting 1 inch off the bottom of the trunk just before putting it into water to enable it to draw water from the holder.
- Check the water level daily.
- Tether large trees to avoid a tip-over or yank-over hazard by an eager youngster.
- Make sure artificial trees are certified as “Flame Retardant”.
- Check lights for frayed or loose connections. They will produce heat and then sparks.
- Carefully place extension cords away from foot traffic and babies, and not under rugs or carpet.
Simplifying For Happy Holidays
With babies and small children at home, we need to manage the demands of the season thoughtfully, or we may find ourselves over-stressed and over-tired. For parents, the challenge is to create enjoyable holidays in which we appreciate our family and traditions. The critical action is to SIMPLIFY! This is the perfect time for making choices to include only what you feel are the most important parts of the holidays, and let the others go (at least for a few years).
Ask yourself and your family:
- What do we most treasure about the holidays?
- How could we have that in the easiest possible way?
- What are we willing to drop until the children are older?
- What preparation can be done ahead?
- How could we share tasks with other people?
Instead of trying to create the perfect event and feeling judged by our production, we could take a deep breath and focus on the values and beliefs behind each event. Then we could focus on cherishing these special times with our families and friends.
