The holiday season is a time for lavish and fun presents, pearl white snow across the ground, and tons of time spent with the ones you love; and for some families, it also means an exciting holiday vacation to somewhere fun and extravagant. A lot of families make it a holiday tradition to take a great vacation each and every holiday season; however, with the economy the way it is a lot of parents have found that they are not as comfortable as they were years before. Some parents may even find out that they are completely unable to afford the holiday vacation altogether. While this is a devastating fact, even more devastating is having to tell your kids; so how do you do it?
When it comes to telling your precious little children the holiday vacation they have been waiting for all year long is not going to happen, you may become anxious and worried about how to break the horrible news. It will no doubt be a devastating action; they may decide to cry, get mad at you, plus so much more. However, there are ways you can make this news slightly lighter on their dear little hearts.
The first option when it comes to breaking the horrible news is to give them an early present. Who doesn’t love presents? Parents love presents, teenagers love presents, and kids love them even more. An easy way to bring a smile back to their faces after breaking to them the horrid news is to give them an easy present. You have two options: 1. You can either hand them a gift of your choice hoping that they will be happy with your choice, or 2. You can let them pick a gift from under the tree. They will more then likely choose the biggest gift they see, but if it means they will be happy with you and with themselves and the entire situation, it is definitely worth it. What better way to help get their minds off the bad news then with a brand new, totally fun toy they can indulge in for hours and hours?
If you think the presents you purchased should be strictly opened on Christmas morning, then don’t fret; you have plenty of other options. Another great option that will certainly bring them happiness is to purchase their favorite food item. Take them out for a delicious ice cream treat, get them a fun and delicious Happy Meal from McDonalds, or get them something else they absolutely love. They might not be happy with the situation, but they will surely forget when they are indulging in their favorite food or sweet treat. Who said ice cream never solved any problems?
You might not have enough money to take your loved one on a lavish vacation to an amusement park, the beach, or other exciting place, but there are plenty of places you can take him or her that she will love. For example, try breaking the news to your child positively. Let them know that you will not be able to take them to Disneyland or their favorite location, but you will gladly take them to the park with the best playground or take them to go feed the ducks at the lake. Whatever is free, easy, and nearby that your child loves to do is a great alternative to the huge vacation you had planned. Within hours of teeter tottering or feeding ducks they will have forgotten their anger and be satisfied with the smaller events you have planned.
When you can’t think of anything else, why not revert back to the basics of parenting: love. After informing your little one of the horrendous news, there is no doubt that he or she will be rather upset. Catering to them with an influx of love and affection will really help them through this tough situation. Try hugging them, kissing their little faces all over, and cuddling with them to relieve them of their heartache. If they are angry at you and refuse your love for the moment, give them a little while to cool down and relax before going in for the affection. Whether it happens instantly or in a few hours, this is one easy way to get the love back and help them through this difficult time. Not only is this a great idea for comforting them, but is also a great addition to the aforementioned techniques. A little love and affection can go a long, long way; especially for little girls and boys.
An easy option that does not go unnoticed is the blunt approach. With this approach, you will simply tell your child that the vacation will not be happening this year. Inform your child of all the difficulties that have happened and why you simply cannot go on the vacation. If they listen and understand, then you are definitely in luck, and parents around the world will be jealous. This is very unlikely, so after informing them on the basics you can promise them a trip for next year. Make next years vacation so exciting and so glorious that they will not mind waiting another year for it. Mention something like Disney World or the biggest zoo you know and they will undoubtedly feel instantly better. Don’t forget, though, that this promise will not be forgotten. You will need to start saving up for this extravagant trip and you must make it happen, or consequences could be dire!
Even though vacations are a fun and exciting way to spend time with the family through the holidays, sometimes they just can’t happen. If this unfortunate event happens to you, remember the above listed ways of breaking the news to your child and hope for the best. Don’t forget: There is always next year and no matter how heartbroken your little boy or girl may be, they will always love you no matter what.
