Will you change your Christmas plans this year in view of Covid-19? - Most likely, yes. It depends on what things are looking like. But if we are still without a vaccine (which is probably a given) and still even at the levels we are seeing right now - Christmas will be very different.
I wouldn't throw our annual party for friends - which makes me want to cry. Visits to/from family members would either be skipped or ...I don't know what really...
Will there be a Plan A and Plan B or even a Plan C? - Plan A is doing everything mostly like normal. No trip to see Santa though! Which at 10 I don't think will be a huge deal - although DS definitely still "believes" so I'll have to figure out how to handle THAT one!
Plan B - We could possible do our party with a smaller group. It would be IDEAL if weather was nice and we could use the deck instead of being inside but there is no way to predict that. We have also been hosting all the BILs and their wives one night in Dec each year - could potentially still do that - once again sitting outside weather permitting. Which tells me this year we're going to have record cold spells...lol And we could still drop by MIL to give her gifts - open hers - wearing masks - and not stay long As long as people were open to it I would still gift my normal cookies, etc. I don't "think" my sister and fiance would consider traveling back this year (they moved to UT) but depending on the situation we might still have them come stay with us for their annual visit.
Plan C - Total lockdown - no parties/dinners hosted. No baked goods given. Zoom meetings to visit and "open gifts" Bah humbug.
Will you create new traditions centered around at home activities? - EXCELLENT question and one that needs serious consideration while I have time. I want it to be as magical as possible for DS!!!!
What Christmas tradition must be kept no matter what? - I think most of our traditions are things that are not threatened by lockdown - driving around to see the lights, certain foods, watching movies together, gingerbread house, Pajama Elves box - all still possible!
I may want to give making my own gingerbread a test run - who knows if the premade houses will be available this year??? Same for stocking up ahead on things to make our seasonal favorites! And with how long it takes to order things online these days, if I order DS his new PJs now they just MIGHT be here in time! hahahaha
What are you willing to give up this Christmas? - Trip to see Santa at the mall. Large parties/get togethers.
What can you do to make a sheltered at home Christmas stand out? - I'd like to figure out ways to liven things up more. Little surprises, big surprises. Things/activities - whatever!
Will you shop Black Friday? Or will it be Cyber Monday all the way? - Depending on how things are looking I "might" go to Meijer at 6AM IF they are having their sales this year. Sales have been very different or non-existent since this whole thing started and I can't help but wonder what BF is even going to look like. I think the emphasis will be heavily to the online. Which I've always done but knowing the volume of people that will be doing it this year makes me anticipate hassle, overloaded websites and cancelled orders - i.e. you think you got something only to get an email later that it wasn't really available. So the jury is out on that one!
Will you clean less because your house is in order for all the stay at home time you have had this year? Or will you follow one of the organized Christmas plans. If you follow a plan will it be easier because of all you accomplish during isolation. - I think that in times like these it is both good to be prepared for anything and to keep a connection to the normal rhythms of life/seasons as possible. So yes I will be doing the HGP with a little CC thrown in for sure. Being home I can fit in small tasks on my lunch - no commute time before or after also makes a difference!
In summary - I'm going to try my best to approach the whole situation with as much humor and compassion as possible. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable - I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings - but that may be unavoidable as many have different standards. Despite all the things to worry about I am thankful to look forward to spending the holiday with "my boys" and we will be all the closer for it. As of right now our jobs are stable - we are a lot better off than so many in the world. I will remind myself of that when I want to start complaining
I wouldn't throw our annual party for friends - which makes me want to cry. Visits to/from family members would either be skipped or ...I don't know what really...
Will there be a Plan A and Plan B or even a Plan C? - Plan A is doing everything mostly like normal. No trip to see Santa though! Which at 10 I don't think will be a huge deal - although DS definitely still "believes" so I'll have to figure out how to handle THAT one!
Plan B - We could possible do our party with a smaller group. It would be IDEAL if weather was nice and we could use the deck instead of being inside but there is no way to predict that. We have also been hosting all the BILs and their wives one night in Dec each year - could potentially still do that - once again sitting outside weather permitting. Which tells me this year we're going to have record cold spells...lol And we could still drop by MIL to give her gifts - open hers - wearing masks - and not stay long As long as people were open to it I would still gift my normal cookies, etc. I don't "think" my sister and fiance would consider traveling back this year (they moved to UT) but depending on the situation we might still have them come stay with us for their annual visit.
Plan C - Total lockdown - no parties/dinners hosted. No baked goods given. Zoom meetings to visit and "open gifts" Bah humbug.
Will you create new traditions centered around at home activities? - EXCELLENT question and one that needs serious consideration while I have time. I want it to be as magical as possible for DS!!!!
What Christmas tradition must be kept no matter what? - I think most of our traditions are things that are not threatened by lockdown - driving around to see the lights, certain foods, watching movies together, gingerbread house, Pajama Elves box - all still possible!
I may want to give making my own gingerbread a test run - who knows if the premade houses will be available this year??? Same for stocking up ahead on things to make our seasonal favorites! And with how long it takes to order things online these days, if I order DS his new PJs now they just MIGHT be here in time! hahahaha
What are you willing to give up this Christmas? - Trip to see Santa at the mall. Large parties/get togethers.
What can you do to make a sheltered at home Christmas stand out? - I'd like to figure out ways to liven things up more. Little surprises, big surprises. Things/activities - whatever!
Will you shop Black Friday? Or will it be Cyber Monday all the way? - Depending on how things are looking I "might" go to Meijer at 6AM IF they are having their sales this year. Sales have been very different or non-existent since this whole thing started and I can't help but wonder what BF is even going to look like. I think the emphasis will be heavily to the online. Which I've always done but knowing the volume of people that will be doing it this year makes me anticipate hassle, overloaded websites and cancelled orders - i.e. you think you got something only to get an email later that it wasn't really available. So the jury is out on that one!
Will you clean less because your house is in order for all the stay at home time you have had this year? Or will you follow one of the organized Christmas plans. If you follow a plan will it be easier because of all you accomplish during isolation. - I think that in times like these it is both good to be prepared for anything and to keep a connection to the normal rhythms of life/seasons as possible. So yes I will be doing the HGP with a little CC thrown in for sure. Being home I can fit in small tasks on my lunch - no commute time before or after also makes a difference!
In summary - I'm going to try my best to approach the whole situation with as much humor and compassion as possible. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable - I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings - but that may be unavoidable as many have different standards. Despite all the things to worry about I am thankful to look forward to spending the holiday with "my boys" and we will be all the closer for it. As of right now our jobs are stable - we are a lot better off than so many in the world. I will remind myself of that when I want to start complaining