Last-minute tips to make this Christmas hassle-free

Obviously, this is no normal Wednesday morning. Your neighbourhood is uncharacteristically quiet, which tells you that unlike you, your neighbours are away somewhere, celebrating Christmas.

If you plan to spend the day at home, or are considering visiting a recreational facility where your children can have fun, or a restaurant for a meal, these last-minute tips will help.

The idea is to make today as hassle-free as possible for everyone, especially if you have not done any forward planning. Be warned: If you forge ahead without a plan, be prepared for an anxiety-filled Christmas with frayed tempers, tears, and tantrums thrown into the mix.

MAKE A LIST

If you decide to go out, it is advisable to make a list of everything you might need on your way — it will save you a lot of grief, especially if you have young children.

Apart from the usual must-have items you are likely to pack such as a change of clothes and diapers, include snacks and water, especially if you are travelling a long distance.

Carrying your own bitings and drinks will also save you money since everything around this time of the year normally costs much more.

If travelling with children, and if the journey will take long, carry entertainment to keep them occupied.

You could pack story books, travel-size games, MP3 players, books on tape, portable DVD players, or allow them to play the games on your mobile phone.

You could also sing along to songs you all know or make up fun games as you drive along.

LEAVE EARLY
If you have identified your desired destination for the day, head there early.

This especially counts if you plan to visit a leisure facility such as a national park, museum, or a popular restaurant.

You can bet that several other families will be headed there, therefore there is bound to be a temper-inducing traffic jam on the way. If you wait until the last minute to get out of the house, you can bet that you will bump into your fellow “last minuters” who will also pay for their procrastination.

Another advantage of leaving home early is the fact that you will have enough time to sightsee, for instance if you decide to visit the Kenya Wildlife Service’s Animal Orphanage in Lang’ata or the Nairobi National Museum.

Having an early start also means that you will get the best table and that you will not be forced to wait several nail-biting hours for your meals.

Hunger makes everyone cranky and irritable, a factor that can stress you, leading to a public meltdown you would rather avoid.

An empty stomach especially brings out the worst in children and there is nothing as difficult to contain as an irritable child.

If you are one of those people that is always running late, for the sake of your sanity, make today an exception.

LOCATION IS KEY

If you want your entire family to enjoy this day, then visit a place that is all-inclusive, a place where you and your spouse can enjoy adult fun and where your children can play with abandon and put their endless energy to good use.

This means visiting a facility that offers family-friendly fun and recreational activities such as swimming, horse or camel-riding, swings, slides, bouncing castles, face painting, and other activities that will make today memorable.

Select a busy outlet since you will be assured of fresh food. The restaurant you choose should also have a variety of dishes to choose from so that everyone can have what they want; after all, this is a special day.

The advantage of eating out, if you have the money that is, is the consolation that you do not have to slave in the kitchen over steaming sufurias, and unlike eating at home, there will be no dishes to scrub later.

As you bond and enjoy a meal with your family, do not forget to take a couple of photographs, which you can pore over in future.

A FUSS-FREE MEAL AT HOME

If you have no money to spend or simply want that laid-back Christmas at home, you can make the day special by having a simple meal that everyone enjoys, then later watch a family-friendly movie or play games such as Scrabble.

If entertaining relatives and friends, it is not too late to consider a potluck luncheon.

This is where everyone brings with them their favourite dish to be shared by all.

It means that you will not have to slave away in the kitchen all day and, even better, you will have enough time to spend with friends and family, besides saving you money.

RELAX, TOSS THE RULES OUT THE WINDOW

Rules and regulations are necessary in every household. They enable you to run your household effectively and encourage children to be responsible.

Though this may be the case, it does no harm to relax the rules a bit and allow your children free reign at least once a year.

And what better day than Christmas. Allow them to eat whatever they want — this one day, let them satisfy their sweet tooth with sweets, cakes, chocolates, ice cream, sodas, and other treats that you normally give sparingly. Afterwards, allow them to sleep late; they will love you for it.

DELEGATE, DELEGATE
The most likely scenario in most homes is that the house help has travelled home to be with her family.

This means that everything, from washing to cooking, has fallen on your shoulders.

Everything will be much easier and everyone happier if you share the duties around the home. Do not hesitate to ask your spouse to help out with the housework.

If going out, for instance, one can pack as the other gives the children a bath. It will not only save time, it will also foster goodwill between you.

Working in solidarity also prevents the petty, stress-fuelled fights that are common during holidays.

Work as a team and watch as your relationship gets warmer. Another way to disassociate this Christmas with hard work is to delegate duties not only to the adults, but also to the children.

The older ones can pack for themselves what they need for the road trip, and if you are staying at home, the younger ones can set and clear the table and wash the dishes afterwards.

STAY SANE

For various reasons, most road accidents happen around this time.

To begin with, like you, everyone is rushing to get to their destination on time, therefore there are bound to be speeding drivers on the road.

There is also the fact that there will be some drunk drivers on the road. With this in mind, avoid speeding; this way, it will be possible to stay in control of your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Be courteous and give way, and avoid overlapping or overtaking where you should not. Also, if possible, avoid driving at night when visibility is poor.

REMEMBER, A DEMANDING JANUARY BECKONS
For some reason, many of us spend money as if we will not need it come January.

It does not help that those in employment are paid much earlier than usual. If you have not done it yet, we suggest that you put aside money that you will need to pay your children’s school fees, rent, buy text and exercise books, uniform, and other necessities.

You do not want to be hospitalised with stress when you finally remember all those bills you have to pay, yet you have no money.