Survivable Holidays: There's Nothing Wrong with Chinese Food for Christmas

Here at GeekMom -- and probably out there in the real world, too -- a lot of us are just Not In The Mood For Christmas. For parents, and especially for moms, the holiday season comes with a lot of added responsibilities. There are cards to be addressed, the holiday newsletter to write, the tree to decorate, cookies to bake, presents to wrap, a special dinner to prepare and often a houseful of relatives to entertain.

Meanwhile, many families are dealing with the same stresses that creep up at any time of the year, holidays or no: health issues, spouses away from home, major life changes, family drama, financial strain, custody battles, or loss of a loved one. Kids can feel the pressure of having a "perfect Christmas" too, and add their own meltdowns to the things parents have to deal with. On top of all the seasonal hoopla, that sometimes leaves us without a lot of holiday cheer to share with our families.

That's why, today and tomorrow on GeekMom, we're going to share our stories and tips about coping with the holiday blues. To start, here are some suggestions from one of our writers, Kay Moore:

Strip out the parts that you don't enjoy. Make your own traditions to treasure as much as anything out of Dickens. I used to calligraph Christmas card envelopes, then just the initial letter... Now it's Avery labels and a mass-produced missive. This year that letter is hand-written to avoid extra typing. I love exchanging cards and will cling to that tradition, even as many others abandon it. I figure that the rest of the world is lower on the priority scale. I will have many other years with time and resources to devote to the things I bump off a to-do list this year. The important thing is to maintain a kind and forgiving attitude to yourself as you make these choices.

So, not up to fighting the crowds at the mall? Do your shopping online. In fact, you don't even have to cook a special meal yourself to make your holiday special. Growing up Jewish, my family tradition on Christmas was always dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant and a movie. And from what I've been hearing from the GeekMom crew, it's a tradition that's spreading to the part of the population that actually celebrates the day. Remember that scene in A Christmas Story, where the family makes up for a string of misadventures Christmas morning -- include a roast turkey lost to the neighbor's hounds -- with a meal of Peking Duck?

This year, if getting ready for your own holiday celebration feels overwhelming, we hope you'll take comfort and inspiration from our stories. Go ahead and have Chinese food for your Christmas dinner, if it makes your season a little less crazy. And if "Happy Holidays" doesn't quite suit your mood this year, then please accept our wishes for the most Survivable Holidays ever!