While children's unrealistic expectations are obvious, it is important to realize that adults, too, have expectations which are not realistic. It seems that we encounter images of healthy and wealthy families baking cookies, trimming trees, singing carols, opening gifts or sitting down to dinner everywhere we turn during the holiday season. When our experiences do not live up to the ideal, we may feel disappointed, upset or worse. This contributes to holiday stress. Developing realistic expectations is one way to avoid the problem.
Money is a good place to start.
Don't fall for our culture's materialistic message that expensive gifts are a sign of love and caring. Remind yourself that it is possible for your family to have memorable holiday experiences without spending a great deal of money. Discuss your financial situation as a family and develop a holiday budget that is based on realistic expectations of what you can afford. Stick to that budget. You also need to have realistic expectations about the sheer amount of things you will have time to do.