Relationship
…Tips for Christmas activities
THE holidays are upon us and in between wrapping presents and singing holiday songs, you will want to throw some fun Christmas activities into the mix.
These are a great way to not only pass the time but bring family and friends together in an exciting way.
Whether you are looking to decorate houses or play holiday charades, there are fun Christmas activities that everyone will enjoy no matter how young or old. Here are some tips:
1. Go on a holiday lights scavenger hunt
Going to look at lights on other people’s homes is a fun Christmas activity for all ages. Grab the family, get some cups of hot chocolate and make your way to the neighborhoods that go all out for the holidays and stroll around. Make sure to bring your camera to capture the houses that make your jaw drop so you can post them on social media to show your friends.
2. Enjoy a hot chocolate bar
For those with a sweet tooth, a hot chocolate bar is a must-do activity during the holiday season. Get your favorite hot chocolate from Swiss Miss or Williams-Sonoma alongside your favorite mug and enjoy! Don’t forget the marshmallows and decorative festive sprinkles for more festive fun.
3. Make a holiday time capsule
Time capsules are a great way to reflect on the year that’s gone by and cherish items to be opened in the following year. You can either place a special item inside or write down a prediction for next year and when it rolls around you can see if it has come to fruition.
4. Create a holiday playlist
You may already have some Christmas carols on repeat for the holidays, however, you can spend some time creating festive playlists for family dinners and holiday parties. You can even come up with one for the kids, adults and the entire clan. Kids will love getting to pick what songs to add from their favorite artists too.
5. Recreate a cherished recipe
Some recipes are handed down from generation to generation, and while the people who wrote them may be gone, their memories live on. Food brings people together, and that’s truly a reason to celebrate the holiday season.
6. Host a gift swap
Host a gift exchange with friends or coworkers. Put a price limit on the gifts, or set another theme: All the gifts have to be something funny, something from a thrift store, only food items, etc.
7. Do a good deed
Christmas is a good time to be thankful for your blessings and help those who are less fortunate. It can be as simple as giving a genuine compliment or more involved like a full day of volunteering at the soup kitchen. Either way, it will bring more joy into the world and make you feel good, too.
8. Sing Christmas karaoke
You already know all the words to your favorite Christmas songs, so why not belt them out? You can even turn it into a game, where singers have to skip certain words like Santa or tree. If they mess up, they are out.
9. Gift a teacher or other cherished friend
Is there somebody who does a lot for you who you don’t typically buy a present for? Try getting them a heartfelt gift to show your gratitude, or even hand make them something. There’s no better way to show your appreciation.
10. Attend a Christmas service
Even if your family does not usually attend church services, Christmas is a great opportunity to put on your Sunday finery and visit a nearby place of worship. It will also help everyone remember the reason for the season.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
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Raising kids is one of the toughest and most fulfilling jobs in the world -and the one for which you might feel the least prepared.
Here are nine child-rearing tips can help you feel more fulfilled as a parent.
- Boost your child’s self-esteem
Children start developing their sense of self as babies when they see themselves through their parents’ eyes. Your tone of voice, your body language, and your every expression are absorbed by your kids. Your words and actions as a parent affect their developing self-esteem more than anything else.
Praising accomplishments, however small, will make them feel proud; letting kids do things independently will make them feel capable and strong. By contrast, belittling comments or comparing a child unfavorably with another will make kids feel worthless.
Avoid making loaded statements or using words as weapons. Comments like “What a stupid thing to do!” or “You act more like a baby than your little brother!” cause damage just as physical blows do.
Choose your words carefully and be compassionate. Let your children know that everyone makes mistakes and that you still love them, even when you don’t love their behavior.
2. Catch children being good
Have you ever stopped to think about how many times you react negatively to your kids in a given day? You may find yourself criticising far more often than complimenting. How would you feel about a boss who treated you with that much negative guidance, even if it was well-intentioned?
The more effective approach is to catch kids doing something right: “You made your bed without being asked that’s terrific!” or “I was watching you play with your sister and you were very patient.” These statements will do more to encourage good behaviour over the long run than repeated scolding.
Make a point of finding something to praise every day. Be generous with rewards- your love, hugs, and compliments can work wonders and are often reward enough. Soon you will find you are “growing” more of the behavior you would like to see.
Marriage is meant to be a sanctuary – a place where two people feel safe, seen, and supported. But what happens when the person who promised “forever” slowly becomes the source of your deepest emotional wounds?
As a marriage counsellor and mental health professional in Accra, I sit with men who whisper, “I feel invisible in my own home,” or “I’m constantly blamed for things I didn’t do.” Often, these men are not describing a “difficult wife.” They are describing years of living with narcissistic patterns -patterns that don’t bruise the skin, but shatter the soul.
Let me be clear: Narcissism exists on a spectrum. Confidence is healthy. Pride is human. But narcissistic personality traits become destructive when they are consistent, rigid, and designed to control, manipulate, or diminish the other partner. Research from the American Psychological Association shows that emotional abuse from narcissistic partners can cause anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and even trauma symptoms similar to PTSD.
This article is not about demonising women. It is about naming pain so healing can begin. If you see yourself in these 7 red flags, know this: You are not weak, you are not crazy, and you are not alone.
What can you do if you see these red flags?
Naming the wound is the first step to healing it. Healing does not always mean divorce. Sometimes it means clarity, boundaries, and professional support. Here’s where to start:
1. Get professional clarity, not just advice
Friends may say “all women are like that.” They are not. A trained marriage counsellor or psychologist can help you separate personality traits from clinical patterns, and reality from manipulation. Clarity protects your mental health.
2. Set firm, calm boundaries
Boundaries are not attacks. They are fences around your dignity. Example: “I will not be insulted in public. If it happens, I will leave the room.” Boundaries teach people how to treat you.
3. Rebuild your support system
Narcissistic dynamics thrive in isolation. Reconnect with trusted male friends, mentors, family, or men’s support groups. You need voices outside the home to remind you that you are valuable.
4. Prioritise your mental and physical health
Therapy, exercise, prayer, journaling, medical check-ups — these are not selfish. They are survival tools. A wounded man cannot lead, love, or parent well. Heal yourself first.
5. Seek professional counselling or mediation, not war
If the marriage can be saved, a counsellor or ADR Expert/Arbitrator can create a structured, safe space for both partners to be heard. If it cannot, mediation protects children and assets from destructive conflict.
Final word to the man reading this
Brother, marriage should add to your life, not subtract from your sense of self. If you live daily with confusion, fear, and emotional emptiness, please hear me: You are not the problem for naming it. Silent wounds in marriage only heal when we bring them into the light.
You deserve a home where peace, not performance, is the atmosphere. Whether healing happens within the marriage through transformation and boundaries, or outside it through a safer separation, your mental health and dignity matter.
You are not alone. And you are not powerless.
Source:
Rev. Counsellor Prince Offei, founder of Counsellor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC), is a leading Mental Health Professional, Marriage Counsellor, Published Author, ADR Expert/Arbitrator, and Spectator Newspaper Columnist. He writes weekly on relationships, marriage, parenting, special needs support, and their connection to mental health and psychological well-being.
For therapy, counselling, mediation, or enquiries, contact Counselor Prince & Associates Consult (CPAC) or CPAC Africa ADR and Mediation Centre (CAAMC) in Accra on 0559850604 or 0551428486.
Websites: https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/website | https://princeoffei22.wixsite.com/author
