December is such a stressful month. I’ve been writing about how much I have to do with Christmas creeping up on me. Today, while pulling out of the Einstein Bagels store parking lot a woman in a mini-van waved me into traffic. It was a simple, but great gesture that really put me in the right frame of mind for the day. You see, I was already running late, having run out of the house without eating anything when I decided I needed nourishment for the long day ahead of me. So, stopping for a bagel meant I was pushing the envelope even more. When this woman waved me in it gave me some time back. Here are some ideas of things we can do for each other this month:

1. Let a car in front of you.
2. Let someone with only one item go ahead of you in line at a checkout counter
3. Put money in the Salvation Army kettle. Those bell ringers work for long hours, often in the cold. Put something in.
4. Skip the parking spot nearest the store — let someone else park there.
5. Put your neighbor’s newspaper by his front door one morning.
6. Pay the toll for the car that is behind you.
7. Offer to return the shopping cart to the store for someone who just put groceries in his car.

Last week my son’s daycare had their annual Christmas party. He had to bring a gift to exchange with a boy from his class and I was told to buy something that my son would want because “sometimes the two-year-olds don’t like to share the gift they brought.”

My son has been doing OK in this area — participating in a weekly “bring your toy to share” day has helped, but I wondered if he would have a meltdown when asked to give away the present he carried through the front door. He did well and came home with a different gift than the one he brought.

Giving is such a key component to Christmas that I want to teach it early on. I did a couple of searches for toddlers and givng, but found mostly teaching toddlers how to share. While sharing is probably the first step to giving, I want to find ways to teach about giving at this time of year.

Related:

• Helping toddlers learn about sharing at Christmas
• Teaching your child to be generous, not greedy

I didn’t get my packages in the mail as I’d hoped this weekend, nor did I mail my Christmas cards. So, now I’m even further behind schedule. And, Christmas, need I remind you, is one week from tomorrow.

I did get some down time this weekend, so at least I have my sanity.  Tonight I’ll have to hustle to get the rest of my “to dos” done.

I’ve been running around like crazy making lists, buying gifts, decorating the house (moving furniture back into the living room), making cookies and doing everything to get ready for Christmas. Last night, while at a friend’s house, I learned that some people don’t send Christmas cards. Got me to thinking of ways that we can eliminate stress during Christmas.

1. Don’t send Christmas cards this year. if your friends are truly your friends they won’t blacklist you from their card list.
2. Stop baking. We all have enough sweets as it is, don’t we?
3. Buy your child one less gift than you plan.
4. Stop decorating. If you don’t have a decoration up by now, don’t put it up. Will you really miss it for one year?
5. Shop online.
6. Decide to go to lunch or dinner with a friend after the holidays instead of exchanging gifts.
7. Use gift bags instead of wrapping paper.
8. Skip at least one party.
9. Do one thing for yourself: read a magazine, watch your favorite show, take a bath.
10. Take time to reflect. Step back, knock one thing off of your list for today so that you can sit back with a glass of Chardonnay and reflect on what the season is really about.