Comments on: This Year? Do Less.

By: Meredith

Meredith — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:07:27 +0000

Two sundays ago mine got sent to bed in tears when the cookie making put me over the edge. Not the cookies themselves, it was just other antics ON TOP of cookies that was just too much. My sister has a great plan – they have monthly “interviews” with dad and while one is with Dad she has the other in the kitchen helping to bake treats. For Christmas sugar cookies, she already had some baked, they just decorated them together. Just a small plate full. They got the thrill and she kept it contained. I like this plan!

By: Melissa Multitasking Mama

Melissa Multitasking Mama — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:14:21 +0000

I can’t play video games with the kiddos..the noises drive me up a wall!

By: Musings of a Housewife

Musings of a Housewife — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 20:12:00 +0000

Now see, playing Candyland with my kids and making paper ribbons would make ME climb a tree. We each do what we like, I suppose. And that is JUST FINE.

By: Kim @ Cheap Chic Home

Kim @ Cheap Chic Home — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:16:04 +0000

I do bake with my kids and have since they were old enough to stand on a chair and fling flour around (and it’s okay with me if you all don’t!). Having said that, my annoyance is when people tell me to not stress. I’m pretty even keel, but there are moments during the holidays when I feel harried. That’s okay! I’ll get over it! Telling me to “not stress out” only makes my blood pressure go up, because it sounds like the person saying it is being critical of me and exalting their “relaxed ways”. Please. Thanks for letting me vent.

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:06:18 +0000

Christmas cards! Like getting them, hate doing them, and honestly with Facebook, don’t think I will. Most of the people I send them to, that I used to only connect with once a year, I am now connected with on FB–I have seen their kids and they have seen mine. Baking–now that I love and my daughter and I have a whole day of it planned on Saturday!

By: Ruth

Ruth — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:15:09 +0000

Too funny!!!

Ruth

By: Joy

Joy — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:06:51 +0000

It’s funny you should bring this up! I did the exact same thing this year – crossed stuff off my list, things I would not do this year because of the pressure. And one of the things I crossed off was baking cookies. Then, one lazy Sunday afternoon my 6 yr. old son says, “Let’s back cookies!” So we did. And we had the best time. No pressure. No stress. A little mess. But I guess because we were just doing it ’cause we wanted to it was so much more fun!

By: Kyleen

Kyleen — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:41:37 +0000

Kimba,

Growing up my mom let us (her kids) make “Cathedral Cookies.” Googling Cathedral Cookies will bring up the recipe. When my boys were little they made cathedral cookies, too. The cookies are more fudgy than cookie but the kids thought they were making “cookies” as the name implies. Until reading your post, I hadn’t realized why my mom had us make these cookies. She didn’t like for her kids to make a mess either.

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:37:12 +0000

I am a fourth grade teacher and this year I all but canceled our Holiday Party. I just can’t stand all the sweets and adding sugar to already crazed classroom. I am baking one treat and we will read a holiday book and that’s it. Then on Friday we are having a cleaning party. I bought enough sponges for everyone and dusting clothes etc… I may play music while we clean, but that’s it. I trust that each family will take over with the merry making and we can all do with a bit less sugar.

By: Tris

Tris — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:27:13 +0000

No baking going on in this house either. No dough for the dough. (Yeah, smack me…I went there) We gave the gift of time instead. Tons of volunteering at the school is exhausting but when you hear Carol of the Bells NAILED by 3-5th graders or help kids from underpriveledged homes buy presents for their families…well…that’s waaaaaay better than making some cookies in my book!

By: Aimee

Aimee — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:20:07 +0000

Oh thank HEAVEN there’s someone else willing to say this out loud!!! My boys really want to bake with me, but oh my goodness…I just have the hardest time with it.

By: darlene

darlene — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:02:43 +0000

i am the nut who does cookie decorating parties with her kiddos and to be truthful it sometimes gives me anxiety attacks. i have to try REAL hard to stay calm and not get OCD. the end result is happy kids and that is why i do it.

By: Courtney @ nesting instincts

Courtney @ nesting instincts — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:57:37 +0000

I hear you! I was starting to feel guilty that we hadn’t done it yet. We did a gingerbread house (from a kit) which I had to mostly build myself and I was just about ready to tear my hair out!! Oh my word. So yes – skip the cookie thing. I was thinking about the refridgerated dough myself. I have a box mix…but even that is starting to feel like too much work! So thanks for letting me off the hook.

By: Stacey @ The Blessed Nest

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:35:11 +0000

Seriously, you are SO not alone! I’m planning to have my kids “bake” with me, but only really plan on that lasting for a tiny bit. Either because they’re going nuts, or I am! Truthfully, I’m not even planning to bake some of my cookies I’ll be serving this year. I’ll be pulling them straight out of the package and plopping them on a serving plate. As stress-free as it gets! LOL!!! We also decided that since we’re leaving town the day after Christmas we aren’t going to make a big Christmas dinner or even Christmas Eve dinner. I think leftover turkey made into a casserole or hearty soup will be about as fancy as we get this year.

You know what though? In the grand scheme of things, none of it really matters….whether my kids help bake the cookies, or whether we put out tons of decorations, whether we get the “it” present of the year, or whether we have a fancy Christmas turkey or ham dinner….what matters is spending time with those we love, remembering & celebrating the birth of the Greatest Gift of all! I need to remind myself of this often!

This was an awesome post, Thanks!
Blessings,
Stacey

By: Anna See

Anna See — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:19:05 +0000

Hi Kimba,

Love this post! I have decorated less this Christmas and it has been a nice breather.

By: Emily A. Clark

Emily A. Clark — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:05:41 +0000

Thank you. Thank you. I just needed to hear another mom say this. It also makes me C.R.A.Z.Y! I don’t bake alone, much less with them

Merry Christmas!

By: Debbie D

Debbie D — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:51:37 +0000

I don’t “bake” with my kids either. I make the sugar cookies and icing while they are in school. Then I put out the number of cookies that each can decorate, sprinkles, and icing (only white), and let them have at it. Way less to clean up and they feel like they DID bake with me!

By: Deborah

Deborah — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:08:05 +0000

I too have the same vision of a sweet family baking time while music plays and we all giggle and have a good time. Normally what happens is they all cry because they all want to stand in the same spot or one person had one more turn than another at adding an ingredient or something like that. I get fed up, kick them all out and finish is myself. I’m glad I’m not alone. I love the idea of the purchased cookies in holiday shapes to decorate yourself!
Now I just tell my oldest to go and make them herself, she is much happier this way.

By: Audra Lynn

Audra Lynn — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:06:32 +0000

This year, decorating the tree is making me crazy. My three-year-old wants to help so badly, and all of his ornaments end up in one spot, on a bottom branch that inevitably droops to the floor. And as quickly as I can hang ornaments, my 15-month-old is pulling off the ones that she can reach. And in the meantime, my husband is in the next room, quietly snickering as I keep repeating, “How about putting one on the other side?” and “No, no!” Hopefully we finish by Christmas Eve.

By: sandy

sandy — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:49:03 +0000

HI Kimba, Great post, GF. I gave up baking w/kids a long time ago. Things just change as they get older. And I am thankful for that. I’ve learned to let go of expectations and embrace what the “family” wants to do. Teens are great! You’re right behind me! XO

By: Roeshel

Roeshel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:34:20 +0000

I’m not a fan of baking cookies period. Not with or without the girls. Something about the stirring and time it takes. No patience for it.

Your alternative suggestions are fun ideas!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:26:51 +0000

So….I am the crazy lady who is having everyones kids over for a cookie making party at my house. My kitchen will look like it did a few days ago(check out my blog pictures) except rather than foam peanuts it will be flour.

By: Norma Lee Good

Norma Lee Good — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:21:15 +0000

OH I am SO glad to hear that my mom isn’t the only one. I always took it personally because I thought it was just we were bad bakers! Now I get it! You explained it to me so well. I’m 30 and I still make her nervous. I guess because I’m still messy.

By: Sarah@Clover Lane

Sarah@Clover Lane — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:06:31 +0000

I can do ANY cookies but cut-out cookies DO drive me crazy…it’s just the mess and the long long process…by the time i roll out the dough i’m done….but then there’s the frosting and the sprinkles and on and on…i’m beginning to have less and less energy for it!

By: Kimba

Kimba — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:58:18 +0000

We used staples for our paper chains this year. My oldest is 6 and he thought that using that little mini stapler was just about the coolest thing ever.