Spending the Holiday Season in your new home after your family has relocated can feel a little lonely and just…well…not right. If you’re lucky enough to be moving to a place where you have plenty of friends and extended family, it may not be so bad. However, a move due to a new job or other life changing event may not provide the opportunities you have grown accustomed to during the holidays. Here are 4 tips to help you adjust to holidays in your new home:
- Maintain as many old traditions as possible. Do you have a specific menu that you usually stick to for Thanksgiving? Do you put up the Christmas Tree on a certain day? Do you read stories on Christmas Eve? Try to keep as many of these traditions alive as possible. Using old family decorations can also help make your new home feel less alien.
- Find a local equivalent. Was there a pumpkin patch, tree farm, holiday spectacular, or some other form of entertainment that you attended every year? Ask your new neighbors and coworkers if there’s something similar nearby. You can also check online event websites, but word-of-mouth is usually the best way utilize experience and find out if one option ranks better than another. Some events can sound really great online, but may not be all they’re made out to be and locals will be happy to share this inside information.
- Start a new tradition. One way to truly appreciate your new home is to create a tradition around something specific to it or the new city you live in. When I moved to Wilmington, it was just my mother and I, and it was our first time living in an area near the ocean. So, that Thanksgiving, we opted out of the traditional turkey and stuffing, and had a crab boil with local seafood in it. It was one of the best holiday meals I’ve ever had, and we try to do it once a year, either at Thanksgiving or Christmas (we now have family that lives nearby). We’ve also incorporated holiday light tours into our traditions, which helped us to get to know nearby neighborhoods.
- Embrace technology. Skype and FaceTime are free programs and apps that you can use on your phone or computer to video chat with friends and family. Take a few minutes to say hi to your loved ones. With video, you can experience moments together, like opening presents on Christmas Day or ringing in the new year. A familiar face can help ease the sadness of not having loved ones nearby.
The first year may be a little rough, but it will get easier. Remember to listen to each other and be open to new experiences, because when everyone has the opportunity to choose, they’ll be more willing to participate and that will ease the adjustment. Then, next year, you’ll have “new” old traditions to look forward to and a full understanding of what to expect.
If you have any questions about buying or selling a home in the greater Wilmington area, give us a call or send us a message through our Contact page.
