How To: Survive The Holidays Away From Family

hello simply clarke readers!! i am lauren and i am so excited to take over for marquis today, she actually designed my blog!! isn’t it pretty?? Check it out at Lot 48!

i am excited to take over her blog for the day and give you some tips on how to survive the holidays with your in laws!!  for me, not being with my family for the holidays is really really hard.  it might be hard for you too, so i wanted to give you some tips that might help spending the holidays away from your family a little bit easier!!

last year was the first time in my entire life i was away from my family for Christmas.  i was engaged and in my family, we take turns at in laws.  i was home for thanksgiving, so it was my turn to be away for Christmas.  i remember so well it was Christmas eve and i was an anxious mess.  i was sobbing hysterically as we drove from my apartment to my in law’s house for Christmas eve festivities.  i just wanted to go home, 300 miles away to my home where my parents were and the house i grew up in was.  i just wanted to be home.  my sweet fiancé now husband didn’t take it personally and did his best to comfort me.  i couldn’t believe what a baby i was being!! i wanted to have fun and enjoy the holiday, but i couldn’t stop crying!! i felt so pathetic!! so here are some things that can help so you don’t act like me on Christmas!!

bring some family Christmas traditions to wherever you are.   for me, that would be listening to the carpenters as Christmas music and wearing matching pajamas.  whatever your holiday traditions may be, bring a little of them into your day when you are away from family.cuddle up and watch a Christmas movie. my family always loved watching how the grinch stole christmas with jim carrey.  i watched that last year when i was away from them and it made me feel a little bit closer.skype with them as they open their presents and as you open yours.  with technology, it is great that you can be closer to your family or loved ones than you would have been a few years ago!! i made sure i skyped with my family on Christmas day last  year, and it made me feel a lot better.

give service.  whether that is taking Christmas cookies to neighbors or volunteering at a homeless shelter on Christmas day or around the day, taking your problems outside of yourself is so valuable!! that really helps you manage to forget about yourself and your woes and homesickness and focus on others.  to me, that is the best thing you can do for homesickness!!

get your favorite holiday book that you would read as a family.  we always read this book called the legend of the candy cane. i loved LOVED that holiday book and is my absolute favorite.  read that or read a book that you would normally read with your family.

i hope all these things will make you feel closer to your family this season if you are away from them!!

happy holidays!!