Slowing Down During The Holidays For Us And Our Kids

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In This Week’s Newsletter:

• Quote of The Week - “The biggest flex is to train your mind to be stronger than your feelings.” ~

• Javaree Talks - The holiday rush and parenting pressures

• Good On Social - Nurturing confident children

• In The News -

• Dad Joke Of The Week -

JAVAREE TALKS 

The holidays are joyful, filled with laughter, love, and cherished traditions. It’s a season that brings us all together in a magical way. Yes, there’s a fair amount of delightful chaos, but it’s all part of the magic. Between work deadlines, holiday parties, travel plans, school recitals, and endless festivities, it’s easy to feel like we’re sprinting to the finish line of the year.

My company has a winter shutdown each year when we all take a break to spend time with our families and recharge for the new year. This year, we are closed from December 25 through January 1, and at the same time, my son's school is closed, so everything must be wrapped up before the break. Different stakeholders want deliverables before the end of the year. Add to that the preschool teacher gifts, holiday shopping, meal planning, and all the other things, and suddenly, I’m juggling more than I already have been. It's easy to get caught up in the rush and miss what's happening around the family.

As parents, we hold the key to making the season magical for our kids. Our actions and attitudes shape our experiences. We have the power to create a magical holiday season for our children. But in the process, we can sometimes lose sight of the magic ourselves. And without meaning to, we pass that hurried mindset onto our kids. We’re pushing them to hurry up, get dressed, eat faster, and keep moving because we’re trying to keep pace with our overloaded schedules. But what if we hit pause instead? What if we, dads, took the lead in slowing down and enjoying the moment?

Kids are wired to explore; adults learn to rush.

Unlike adults, children’s brains are still developing the ability to think ahead, anticipate what’s next, and understand sequences. They live in the present. Kids explore, experiment, ask questions, and soak in their surroundings, and that’s how they learn.

When we rush them, we unintentionally disrupt that process. We teach them that speed matters more than curiosity. But we also know, deep down, that we could use a little slowing down in our lives, and slowing down benefits our kids’ learning process by allowing them to fully engage with their environment and learn at their own pace. It also gives us calm and appreciation, reducing stress and allowing us to enjoy the holiday season more. So why not model what it means to appreciate the moment instead of racing through it?

Reframing December as an opportunity to slow down

With all the holidays, it's the perfect reminder to practice slowing down and to pass that gift on to our kids. Instead of focusing on how quickly we can get through the next event, we can:

• Pause and appreciate their wonder when they stop to admire decorations or lights.

• Encourage curiosity by answering their endless questions instead of brushing them off in a rush.

• Build in time for unstructured play so they can move at their own pace.

• Show them that being present matters more than being on time.

Modeling what matters

As I prepare for the break, balancing deadlines and holiday preparations, I’m also reminding myself to step back and model what I want my kids to see more: curiosity, calmness, and presence.

This time of year reminds us to be intentional with our schedules and our moments. Our kids are watching us, learning from what we say and how we act. By slowing down, we give them one of the most important gifts they can get—an appreciation for the present.

How will you slow down and connect with your kids this holiday season? I’d love to hear your ideas. Let’s share some inspiration and support each other in this dad life journey!

GOOD ON SOCIAL

theconsciousparentinghub

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raisingtwigandbananas

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ceooflimitless

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DAD JOKE OF THE WEEK

Why do elves read the dictionary?

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To become better wrappers!

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