It might be a shock to some, but helping at Christmas can actually be made into something fun.
For example, anytime someone asks you for a beer, rather than walking to the fridge owes you $2.00. Have a jar set up at the table especially for this. Your ‘Christmas crime’ can be for anything, such as leaving a plate on the floor instead of walking the ten steps to the dishwasher or leaving an empty can on the table instead of walking outside to the recycling bin. You may end up with quite the stash at the end of the day and you can certainly expect things to change!
Another great way to actually enjoy time with your family is to have as much done as possible before the big evening, day or afternoon.
Make as many of the dishes beforehand so all you need to do is pop them in the oven or microwave and serve them up. Have drinks already chilling in the esky and set up a garbage bin, recycling bin and anything else to help your guests clean up after themselves. Spending three hours prepping for Christmas Day beforehand means you will have an extra three hours to sit down, have a glass of wine and actually enjoy your guests rather than cursing them from the kitchen. But remember, if you’re doing all the work beforehand, there’s no reason that you should also do all the work on the day. Revisit point one and chat with your family about a balance of chores. You deserve a break too!
Do you have problems with Christmas layabouts in your house?
How do you usually deal with them?
Clare WhitfieldChief Editor
Clare Whitfield is the Editor of Stay at Home Mum and a recognised voice in practical home management for Australian families. Based in the northern suburbs of Sydney, she balances editorial leadership with life as a stay at home mum to two school age children. Her background in home economics and more than a decade of experience in recipe development, family budgeting, and household systems inform her work.
Very tasty, thankyou!