Embrace the Suck: 3 Ways to Embrace the Holidays in a Not-So-Christmas-y Location

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    When we moved to Florida in November of 2014, I was excited to be away from the ice storms, blizzards, and freezing temps that I had experienced my entire life in the Midwest. I boasted about our newfound lives of sunshine, pool days, and flip flops throughout that first winter.

    But as Christmas drew closer, the more I began to miss the things I thought I hated. I had only  weeks to find ways to embrace the Christmas season in a not-so-Christmas-y location. I had to embrace the suck.

    There was definitely nothing sucky about moving to Florida- a move we made by choice after careful planning and decades of shoveling snow, but for many military families a cross-country or cross-globe move can be unexpected and/or unwanted. This is when one must learn to (and submit to) just embracing the suck.

    Whether you’re living in a warm climate when you’re used to snow; a bustling city when you’re used to rural farm life; or a foreign country that barely acknowledges Christmas when you’re used to celebrating the birth of Christ all December long, there are ways to embrace this season of your life.

    Tip #1: Have a Themed Christmas

    Every year we put up the tree and the kids decorate it with their favorite ornaments that we’ve collected throughout the years – the ones they made in preschool, the special ones from Grandma, the ones that I hung on my own tree when I was a little girl. Then we put up the BIG tree and it gets decorated in a new theme each year of my choosing. Embracing our new sunny season of life, I chose to decorate my tree (and most of the house) in a beach theme that first Christmas and suddenly seashells replaced snow angels and starfish replaced snowmen, and our house was festive and fun, despite the lack of sleigh rides and snow.

    On Christmas day, we grilled out, swam in the pool, and then headed to the beach the next day to build sand-men. Santa brought boogie boards and swim fins and we made the most of our new non-traditional Christmas weather.

    So, if you’re in Korea, have a Korean themed Christmas. If you’re in Louisiana, embrace a Cajun Christmas. If you’re in Hawaii this year, Mele Kalikimaka! It’s OK to miss “home” and to reflect fondly on the Christmases of the past, but it’s our job as mamas to make the most of each Christmas for our children.

    Someday when they are grown, they’ll look back and THIS Christmas will be a part of their norm.

    Do you want them to remember Christmas as the season that Mama always cried and begged to go back home, or do you want them to remember all the grand adventures you had together and the fun new trees/décor/dishes/cookies that you tried at each new duty station?

    You can do it, Mama. Embrace the suck.

    Tip #2- Improvise

    Eventually, the white sand lost its luster and as much as I hated to admit it, I really missed having snow. No, I missed the feeling I had when I was sitting in the house all warm and cozy, looking out my window, admiring the white, wet flakes that fell from the sky and covered the ground with a soft, shimmering blanket of wonder. So, we improvised! A trip to Walmart and a couple of cans of fake snow later, and from inside our house, it looked as if a winter wonderland awaited outside our windows. A few times, I actually forgot that it was 80 degrees on the other side of those sheets of glass. It only cost $5 to boost my mood and recharge my holiday spirit.

    Is it warm where you live? Crank up the A/C one night, so you can all wear your favorite flannel jammies.

    Can’t find a mall Santa in your new country of residence? Find one back home that you can Skype with.

    Whatever it is that you’re missing this holiday season, there’s a way to improvise and give your kids the next best thing.

    Tip #3- Create New Memories & Traditions

    A handful of countries aside, MOST places on our planet celebrate Christmas in some way, shape, or form. So, find out how they do it! What’s something unique in your new area that you’ve never done, visited, or experienced over the holidays before? For us, it was an electric boat parade! All the boats decked out in Christmas lights brought a fun, new Floridian perspective to the holiday season for us.

    And guess what? It snows in Central Florida! Well, not really, but thanks to the clever folks at Disney, you can walk the Christmas Tree Trail at Disney Springs or in the town of Celebration and enjoy the snow falling overhead. In Celebration, it snows enough soap-flakes to even have a snowball fight. I’m sure if you check your local area’s Facebook page or installation website, you’ll find a list of fun new things to try with your family. You’ll make great memories with your kids and may even adapt some as new forever-traditions.

    No matter where you are this holiday season, the choice is YOURS as to how you will spend it.

    Will you cry about being homesick and focus all your efforts on making Christmas just like “it used to be”? Or will you embrace a new culture, new location, and new community while making the memories your children will cherish forever?

    You can do it, Mama. Embrace the suck.  

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    Heather Tabers
    Heather is a writer and homeschool mama living the dream in Central Florida. Her greatest titles include Mother of 5, Wife of a Wounded Warrior, and Unashamed Daughter of God. She believes life can be messy and beautiful at the same time which is why she enjoys writing stories with a little bit of grit and a lot of grace. When she's not writing, Heather can be found playing with her two furbabies (Murphy & Maisy), spending hours at the dinner table laughing with her family, reading a good book, or binge-watching a good period drama. Heather also donates her time to a wonderful non-profit that shines light into the dark places. She serves as the Communications Director at Love Missions Global, an organization that fights human trafficking by empowering survivors and educating the community. To follow Heather's writing and her quest to publishing her first novel, visit www.heathertabers.com.