Not being able to spend the holidays with loved ones outside our household was awful, but there were some parts of Christmas I actually enjoyed. The break was much quieter than usual, which felt strange. It’s funny how routines become habits, and when they’re broken it can be unsettling. Here are a few things I took from our quiet Christmas.
We shared a fun photo by the tree in our matching Christmas PJs from Shinesty, and because we didn’t have visitors we could wear whatever we wanted. We ended up staying in our PJs a lot. Normally we dress up for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but this year we didn’t bother. Getting dressed up can feel great, but spending the day in silly PJs was relaxing in its own way.
Usually we drive a lot over the holidays, hopping between houses and seeing many people in a short time. This year we couldn’t do that, so I did driveway deliveries and posted gifts where I could. It was nice not to spend hours on the road — Daddy could have a beer without worrying about driving because we were already home.
Every Christmas we alternate between my family and Daddy’s family for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and we often host at least one of those days. We’ve had as many as 16 people for dinner. A full house is wonderful, but it’s also messy. I like the house tidy before guests arrive, and there’s always lots of cleaning afterwards. Not having that extra bustle left me a bit at a loose end, but finding that small upside helped while we missed our family.
What were your favourite parts of a quiet Christmas? Will you do the same this year, or go all out for a big celebration? Enjoy the time together outdoors and the closeness it brings.
