It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – but not Christmas as we know it.
Wherever you are in the country and whatever tier you fall into the chances are Christmas is going to be a bit different this year, but different doesn’t have to mean bad.
The more I think about it, the more I realise there are actually lots of silver linings to Christmas in lockdown, like not running around like a headless chicken trying to ‘do’ everything in the run up the big day, and having a chance to step back and take things a little slower.
I’m already quite enjoying the change, and the truth is I’m not missing Christmas crowds in shops or elbowing my way around school fairs at all!
So, to mark what I know will be a Christmas the kids will remember – and because I want it to be one they remember for the right reasons – I thought it would be fun to share five things we’re doing differently this Christmas.
5 things we’re doing differently this Christmas
1. We’re making a month of it
I’m normally a December 1st sort of person and we don’t mention the C word until then – but that was until the other C word happened! This year we’re making the most of it for as long as possible because we can’t change lockdown and tiers and all the restrictions but we can change our own environment – and the brighter and twinklier the better!
2. Shopping online & local
I always make an effort to shop small and support local business but this year more so than ever. I’m consciously avoiding the big businesses who have done well out of lockdown and supporting smaller ones in the hope they can end the year doing well too.
3. Having just one ‘big’ day out
Any blogger will tell you Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year when it comes to requests to review days out and experiences. As a result our December is usually jam packed with visits to Santa’s grottos and days out at Christmas-themed experiences, all of which have to be photographed, written up and edited. While it’s fabulous to be invited to such events and to be able to give the kids such special childhood memories it’s also a bit of a relief having a year off – especially with a new baby this year. Instead we’ve booked just one ‘big’ day out for the kids – a trip on a Santa Special steam train at our local railway – and we can’t wait!
4. Doing more crafting & baking
Because of Covid and not being able to see family and friends and socialise as we normally would we’re doing a lot more crafting and baking – and it’s so refreshing to be able to take time over them without shoe horning activities in to everything else that has to be done!
5. Appreciating the little things
Like the rest of the year, lockdown has been a chance to step back, slow down and appreciate what we have – which is a lot even though we haven’t been able to spend time with family and friends and our lockdown baby is yet to meet so many members of our family. We’re looking forward to 2021 even though we’re still living under a Covid cloud – and I know it’s the little things that will get us through.
Is there anything you’re doing differently this Christmas? I’d love to know what it is!
I have noticed that more households are putting up outside lights this year and more Christmas songs are being played on the radio this year, as a way of cheering everyone up, I suspect #dreamteam@-_karendennis
And now things are all set to change again! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas, and thanks for linking up with the #dreamteamlinky