''The greatest gift you can give your children is the gift of time.''

Christmas and New Year's can be a joyous and wonderful time of year, but they can also be an emotional rollercoaster for families. A few positive parenting ideas can go a long way toward making kids and parents happier this holiday season and beyond.

Given the difficulties of the previous two years, the prospect of making this Christmas better than any other may seem enticing. Putting too much pressure on ourselves to have the perfect holiday season, on the other hand, has the opposite impact. You might end up wishing you'd skipped the whole event, because the mix of exhausted and grumpy parents and children can make for a miserable holiday season for everyone.

Make memories from your childhood

It's not simply about feeling compelled to accomplish too much and overcommit. There's also the issue of money. Because your children have had a difficult year, you may unknowingly overspend on gifts. It's easy to believe that only the "perfect present" will make your youngster happy this Christmas.

Is that true, though? Isn't it true that the small moments of genuine connection are what we treasure the most? Take a moment to recall your favorite Christmas experiences from childhood. The shiny toys are quickly forgotten, and what we remember are the good experiences and the warm environment. Did you all discreetly snap a snapshot of Mum snoozing on the couch in the afternoon and then reminisce about it every year? Isn't it true that the puppy notoriously chewed up Dad's new book? Did Grandpa bring his accordion and insist on playing it while you were eating shortbread with your cousins?

My favorite Christmas memories from childhood are of my family getting ready for the big day by crafting decorations and baking together. Every year, we'd pick a two-color motif and hang a slew of crepe paper decorations. We'd spend hours coming up with new ideas. The paper chain was my favorite, but a basic curl always looked fantastic, too! Then the baking would begin: a marzipan and royal icing-topped fruit cake, fruit mince pies, shortbread, and rum balls.

Give them your time

To your children, your time is always more valuable than anything else. As a result, it's totally acceptable to turn down items you can't afford.

Little kids like the excitement of the day, the cheerful mood, and, of course, the opportunity to unwrap a few surprises. While Christmas is a lovely family occasion, older children understand that you don't have an endless money. Sit down and have a calm conversation with them ahead of time so they know what's doable within your budget and to hear their suggestions on how to celebrate.

Make a point of focusing on the simple things at Christmas, such as getting the kids involved in planning the route to see the neighborhood lights, cooking a favorite family recipe, browsing through old family photos together, or playing a game. You could even want to make some decorations yourself.It's amazing how many times those battered cardboard angels or macrame stars end up as your favorite tree decorations.

Set reasonable goals for yourself.

Many people haven't had an extended family gathering at Christmas in a long time. We all want to have a good day, so set reasonable goals for yourself, your children, and other people. Let your children know what you're doing on Christmas Day ahead of time, especially if you'll be visiting others. It's quite fine if you have to accept or suffer some awkward or unpleasant moments among the enjoyment and excitement.

Your children may connect with aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents, and other family members, learning old customs and even creating new ones. In honor of my husband's family customs, Christmas trifle is now a staple of our family lunch.

It's not always easy to let go of the drive for perfection and be emotionally 'there' for the short, uncomplicated, joyous moments, but if we can achieve it, we'll be OK.However, if we can manage a little more of it, and even model it for our children, we will be providing something genuinely useful to them.

!!!!!!!!!!Marry Christmas !!!!!!!!!!!!

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CHAMILA HERATH