From the Desk of Clearissa Coward’s Command Center
Hosting A Christmas Party In 2020 – Yay Or Nay?
A Cozy Lifestyle with Clearissa Coward
I do not have to tell you that 2020 has been quite the year. It will certainly have an asterisk next to it in the history books. If you are like me, you’ve been sort of quarantined for months. I started working remotely on March 11, 2020, and I have spent the last nine months, basically alone or with my husband and occasionally with my immediate family and one close friend. And now the holidays are upon us and I am not quite sure how to celebrate Christmas without seeing my elderly mother or attending work Christmas parties, or at cookie exchanges or friend and family gatherings. That is why I am asking the question, Hosting A Christmas Party In 2020 – Yay Or Nay?
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Let me say, that I am not a party animal but I do enjoy having family and friends in for the holidays. But I am also not a selfish person and I know that 2020 is not the year for our traditional gatherings. So what can I do to enjoy the faces of my daughter and grandchildren while they open their gifts on Christmas morning? How can I bake cookies with my bestie? How can I visit with my eighty-six-year-old mother during this season? I have a few tips.
Giving Gifts:
- My mother lives in another state, three hours away and we would normally drive there and take her gifts and take her out to eat and spend time with her. However, for her safety and the safety of the other residents at her center, visitors are not allowed. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand the rules and I support them because so far, none of the residents have tested positive for the virus and that is a blessing. But my mother is still expecting gifts. 🙂
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- My Mom
- wrap the gifts in very festive paper with pretty bows (my mother loves that).
- schedule a facetime visit at least once a week and on Christmas eve or Christmas day. (At my mom’s center, facetime visits must be scheduled. I bought her a cell phone but she refuses to use it so scheduling these visits is a must).
- if you also need to schedule facetime visits, do it early so you can get the day and time you want.
- send several different gifts even if small gifts because the more gifts she has to open the longer the festive feeling will last. I wrapped eight gifts separately and placed them in another box for shipping. I want her to feel special and I want her to know that although I cannot visit, she is not forgotten or alone.
- My Children
- luckily my kids are local, however, they have not sequestered as seriously as I have so I am apprehensive about spending time without proper precautions.
- with that in mind, I have decided that we will gather to exchange gifts but we will not spend the entire day together nor will we have dinner together. I so hate it, but these are desperate times and I have chronic asthma and I have seriously remained self-quarantined for the most part, while my daughter and the children have had to live a more active life.
- we are also discussing spending our dinner time together via Zoom. That way we can still have dinner together and share a little holiday laughter and love. We are still trying to figure out how to play board games (a tradition) via Zoom. Any tips?
- My Friends
- One of my best friends has sequestered the same as I have and gets tested every two weeks. We have spent time together occasionally during Covid. For the holidays we have decided to get together at my house a couple of days before Christmas to bake cookies and have a glass of holiday spirits. 🙂 I am looking forward to this time with her.
- My Husband And I
- Hubs and I are not happy with the current situation, but we are content. We are both still healthy and we have what we need to be just fine at home avoiding contact with a lot of people. My husband does go to work daily but we have a system for when he comes home and actually he’s excited to not have to go out for a few days and to spend the time at home so we are okay.
This is how my family has decided to deal with the holidays during a pandemic. It’s not easy but it is necessary. Our goal is to get through the holidays and remain healthy and safe. We are already looking forward to getting back to normal next year and it is these expectations and positive thoughts that keep us all in a positive frame of mind and it helps to avoid the depression that could set in.
This time of year is always difficult for some, but the circumstances around the virus this year can make it even more so. Folks are afraid, feeling isolated and hopeless. And a lot of us are Covid tired. Just simply worn out by all of the restrictions. I understand, but I also know that we have to follow the science and learn to adapt and use technology to keep our connections strong.
Do you have ideas of how to safely celebrate the holiday season? Are you still socially distancing and will you celebrate the Christmas holiday differently this year?
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Until next time…I remain in my Element – God Bless!
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Hugs & Blessings,
Hey Clearissa:
This will be a very different Christmas for most folks, for sure. It will be challenging but I just keep thinking that next year will be better! I haven’t seen my family in person for over a year now. My husband’s mother lives in our city so we have seen her as she needs our help. I am waiting for my turn to get the vaccine so I can visit my family although I will still need to take precautions. Have a good Christmas!
You’re right Debbie. It has been a different year and a different Christmas for everyone. Like you, I’m am looking forward to a better 2021. Here’s praying your family will remain healthy and that your next year will be all that you need and want it to be. Be well and Merry Christmas my friend.
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