Life with young children gets very hectic. You have to shuffle them to and from school and activities while balancing your responsibilities. But, let’s be honest, it gets exhausting. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of family life. When this happens, not only do you feel overwhelmed, but you begin to drift apart.
Luckily, the Christmas season offers a unique opportunity for Catholic families to reconnect. During Advent, there are so many things to celebrate in anticipation of Christ's birth. It’s a true opportunity to be joyous every day. As a faith-based therapist, I have found that after celebrating together, family communication improves, and tension decreases. I know it can be hard to come up with fun and creative activities when you’re busy. So, today I will share some of our family’s favorite Advent activities.
Finding the Spirit of the Season During A Pandemic
After living in a global pandemic for the last 20 months, anxiety and stress have become common in our lives. You may have noticed yourself checking out during mealtimes or family time. Or, you’ve skipped going on family outings because they are too stressful. You may even feel exhausted after work and caregiving, and you want to relax by doing nothing. All these feelings are normal responses to stress and overwhelm. This doesn’t make you a bad parent in the least.
The Truth is We’re All Suffering from Pandemic Fatigue
Plus, it is only made worse when you add in the stress of parenthood. As parents, our focus switched during the pandemic to ensure our family’s safety. So, we not only found ourselves worrying about normal parent things. We also worried about wearing masks, vaccinations, social distancing, and more. It’s very exhausting. So, if you find yourself approaching Advent with feelings of dread this season, know that it is okay! Adding one more thing to your endless to-do list likely feels very stressful. I get it. I’ve been there. The pressure to produce picture-perfect family activities is a lot. But, here’s the thing, your advent activities don’t have to be grandiose. The purpose of Advent is to come together and celebrate Christ’s birth. So, let go of the pressure and instead focus on connecting and your faith.
Creating Rituals of Connection
Advent provides you with an awesome chance to create fun traditions for your family. These traditions will strengthen family bonds and help to deepen your Catholic faith.
There are a bunch of family Advent ideas out there to consider (seriously, Google it). But, celebrating the season should center around what works and is fun for your family. As a faith-based therapist in Memphis, TN, I'm happy to give you an idea of activities. Here are some of the ones my family enjoys participating in this time of year.
Decorating
Our family loves to decorate for the holidays. In fact, we choose to have some kind of holiday decoration in almost every room. Central to those decorations are images of the nativity. These remind us and our children of the reason why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.
One of our favorite activities is to create an Advent wreath to use as decoration. There are so many ways to do this, but here is an example of a craft project we enjoyed. https://www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/parish-ministry/intergenerational-catechesis/advent/advent-wreath-activity-center/
Prayer and Reading Scripture or Books
Praying together as a family is a powerful thing. It fosters a sense of connection and strengthens family bonds. Plus, it also cultivates a greater relationship with your faith and God. So, I encourage you to take the time to pray together and read Scripture. Or, if your kiddos are younger, then consider some religious storybooks.
Here is a great advent prayer from Loyola Press to consider
God of Love,
Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us.
He is a sign of your love.
Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent,
As we wait and prepare for his coming.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior.
Amen.
Attend Mass
Coming together to attend Mass as a family is another way to reconnect, even if you choose to do so online. Advent is such a fun time in the Catholic liturgical year. It is a time of joy and hope. It’s a great opportunity to fill your spiritual cup so to speak. So, bring your family to Mass. It may be in your living room or at your parish, but it will still be a beautiful time to spend together.
Catholic Family Therapy Can Offer Support
I hope you will reflect on these fun ways to celebrate Advent with your family. I believe that connecting with our loved ones to practice our Catholic faith and pray together offers us a unique chance to foster bonds that last a lifetime.
If your family is struggling right now, please know that support is always available. I offer Catholic family therapy in Germantown, TN. I also offer online family therapy in Tennessee to help families reconnect and address the issues that matter most to them.
Begin Catholic Family Therapy in Memphis, TN
The holidays can often be as joyful as they are stressful. But I would be happy to help you find new ways to connect with your family this season. I hope this blog has been helpful. I also offer support from my Germantown, TN-based counseling practice. To start your therapy journey, please follow these simple steps:
Contact me at stucook@vituscounseling.com or (901)-257-9031
Set up a free consultation call and get to know more about me and Catholic family therapy
Start connecting with your family this holiday season!
Other Services Offered By Stu Cook At Vitus Counseling
I offer a wide range of mental health services to Catholics or people of any belief system at my Germantown, TN therapy practice. Specific mental health services I offer may include depression treatment, ADHD treatment, treatment for OCD, and family counseling. Additionally, I also offer trauma treatment, anxiety therapy, Brainspotting, couples therapy, and addiction treatment. I understand making in-person sessions can be difficult and some Catholics living in Memphis or other parts of Tennessee may have too far to drive to make it to my office in Germantown but still want the advantage of working with a therapist who understands their faith. This is why I'm also happy to offer online therapy for clients living in Tennessee. Please visit my blog or FAQ to learn more helpful information today!
