Parents Talk Ep. 2: Talking About The Holidays

Welcome back to Parents Talk, a conversation with parents for parents!
Today, Jay and Amy begin a conversation about the holidays!
From traditions to stories, to the stress and the expectations that come with the holiday season,
Jay and Amy hope to encourage you to as you get ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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We love Thanksgiving and Christmas. But they haven't always been as fun and stress free as they are today. Our culture has elevated the holiday season raising the levels of expectation and stress for parents. From finding the perfect gift to giving the very thing they wish for, it's sometimes a challenge to get it right. We have had our fair share of years filled with stress and disappointment because we have focused on Christmas lists and shopping instead of being thankful and celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The holiday season doesn't have to be stressful or disappointing. You can give and receive gifts, spend time with family and friends, and celebrate and enjoy the holiday season. In this episode of Parents Talk, we share how we have changed the way to we look at the holidays. From the planning, to the shopping, to the gift giving, to the day after, rediscover the joy of the season! We're talking about the holidays!
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​In this episode we mentioned a few resources that we have used with our kids. We shared these ideas because we participate in OCC every years, and we love both books, Jotham's Journey and A Time To Remember. This was a sponsored or product video. We did receive anything for mentioning the resources. To learn more about the items we mentioned, click on the links below.
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Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse, an organization committed to bringing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. OCC provides families and individuals the opportunity to fill a shoebox-sized contain with various items and gifts. The shoeboxes are then sent around the world and delivered to children on Christmas.

A Time To Remember

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A number of years ago, we purchased the book titled, Time to Remember, by Barbara Rainey. We were looking for a resource that would help us tell the story of the Thanksgiving. Barbara, provides details accounts of the journey that the Pilgrims made as they escaped the religious chains to feel the freedoms of their new home. It's a great resource to use with family devotions and family story time.

Jotham's Journey

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Jotham's Journey is the first in a series of books that take the reader on an incredible adventure back in the days of Jesus' birth. For the last number of years, we have read Jotham or one of the other books in the series as our Advent seasonal readings. We sit in the living room, usually after dinner, and read that days selection. It's a wonderful tradition and something we look forward to every year!

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​Parents Talk, A Conversation With Parents for Parents!

Join the conversation!
Share your holiday traditions, stories, and favorite memories.
How have you resolved the stress and frustrations in your household?
Still trying to figure things out?
Tell us about it. Ask questions.
We'd love to help!

Leave your comments below, and share us with your friends!

- Jay and Amy -

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