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MARIA: THE HOLIDAY IS A REALLY FUN TIME, BUT IT ALSO COMES WITH STRESS FOR PARENTS. SHAYNA: Absolutely. TO HELP MANAGE THIS IS HERE ALL WITH ADVICE DR. ERICA LEE, PSYCHOLOGY IN BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR JOINING US. YOU CAN HAVE A FULL TIME JOB ON THE SAME PAGE ON HOLIDAYS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE MINOR KIDS. HOW DO YOU SET EXPECTATIONS SO EVERYONE CAN HAVE A REALLY GOOD TIME? Dr. LEE: I LOVE THIS QUESTION BECAUSE IT IS AN EXCITING AND STRESSING TIME FOR FAMILIES. I TRY TO REMIND FAMILY THAT YOU SET THE ENVIRONMENT AND IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU TAKE A BREAK TOGETHER. THE HOLIDAY IS COMING WITH MUCH MORE ACTIVITIES AND PLANS AND IT MEANS MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PARENTS FOCUS ON DOING SO MUCH TO ENSURE OTHERS HAVE THESE GREAT MAGIC EXPERIENCES. PARENTS, TRY TO REMEMBER THAT THERE IS NO PERFECT MAGIC HOLIDAY. FOCUSING ON THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS AND SAYING NO TO SOMETHING SO THAT YOU CAN ALL HAVE A MORE COMFORTABLE SCHEDULE. SHAYNA: — MARIA: WE KNOW EVERYONE IS OUT OF THEIR NORMAL SCHEDULE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS. WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO AGAIN TO THE ROUTINE OF EVERYTHING, CAN YOU GIVE US STRATEGIES THAT BEGIN TO COPE WITH – MORE MANAGEMENT? Dr. LEE: IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE REALISTIC THAT THE CHILDREN ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THIS BREAK, WHERE THEY CAN DO ANYTHING THEY WANT. WE ALSO KNOW THAT CHILDREN DO BETTER WHEN THEY HAVE ROUTINES. WHAT I FREQUENTLY RECOMMEND TO PARENTS IS ALL TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE ABOUT THE PROGRAM TO TALK WITH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT ABOUT HOW TO PREPARE FOR CHANGES IN THE PROGRAM. AND A FEW DAYS BEFORE YOU GO BACK AS THE MOST HARD OF ALWAYS, GO BACK TO THE SCHOOL ROUTINE FOLLOWING THE CHILDREN, IT WILL NOT HOLD ITSELF SO SHORT OF CHANGE. SHAYNA: AND IT IS OF course ALSO NECESSARY TO GIVE GIFTS TO CHILDREN AT THIS TIME. HOW DO YOU BALANCE EXCITEMENT AND GRATITUDE? Dr. LEE: I LOVED THIS QUESTION. TAKE TIME TO APPLY. DO ACTIVITIES NOT ONLY ABOUT TAKING ASSETS, DO THINGS THAT ARE IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS. HELP A NEIGHBOR, A FAMILY MEMBER, OR SOMEONE YOU THINK IS GOING ALONE OR THROUGH TIMES ON HOLIDAY. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO TAKE THE TIME TO SHARE, TALK WITH EACH OTHER ABOUT THE THINGS WE ARE GRATEFUL AND STRESS THE NON-MATTER. EXPERIENCES AND EMOTIONS THAT CANNOT BE FOUND UNDER THE TREE. EXAMPLE AT THE DINNER, HOW OR TELLING YOU WHAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR EACH OTHER. THAT’S A WAY TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE. MARIA: Well, WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. AND TO OUR WATCHERS, REQUEST OUR EXPERTS TO ANSWER BY E-MAIL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

Boston Pediatrician shares tips for coping with holiday season stress

Updated: 17:08 EST 19 Dec 2022

The holiday season is an enjoyable time, but it also has a stressful side for parents.

BOSTON —

The holiday season is an enjoyable time, but it also has a stressful side for parents.