We’re staring down the throat of a season during which moms and dads are often stretched to the limit. Parties, errands and juggling family and work ensure their schedules are jammed and almost unmanageable. That’s where the Savvy Uncle (and Auntie) comes in.

When everything around you is in turmoil, it’s a great gift to both yourself and your nieces and nephews to take a moment together to escape from the madness. This does a few things. It makes Mom’s and Dad’s lives easier. It makes kids happy to see their favorite uncle (or aunt). And you get some quality time with family during the part of the year that’s sometimes too busy to offer up an escape.

To provide an example, my family has a tradition of going to a holiday orchestra show. The aunts, uncles, moms, dads and all the kids gather at the event to breathe for a few hours while listening to music. The best part is that I get to see my nieces and nephews and interact without derailing anyone’s schedule.

How’d we make this event first happen? The credit goes to my mother, but to set up a tradition that brings siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles together, the process is easy. Follow these three steps and the next time the busy holidays come around, you’ll know there is time built into the season to spend time with your favorite relatives.

First, identify an event that’s accessible and fun for everyone. Music often brings people together and has a form that allows for talking between songs and during intermissions. Plays are also pretty good, but I find they’re more formal and talking during a show is frowned upon. Some other family gathering events could be a holiday lights tour; town-sponsored open houses (some municipalities put on holiday-in-the-square days where merchants participate in a street fair-type celebration); or even low-key outdoor activities like skating on a public common, or touring a sports stadium or garden.

Next, get the parents on-board. For this “tradition” to work, everyone has to commit to it. The first year for us was a little challenging because we thought it was just another get together in a whole season of dinners, parties and gatherings. What was made clear was that this time was family only and the atmosphere was chosen for the children to have a good time. For those of us wearing the aunt and uncle hats, this was fantastic. We’d get to see our nieces and nephews at a special event, without other interruptions. The parents saw how important this was and now we’re many years into our traditional music meetup.

Finally, once there, make the most of your time with the kids. There’s no undue pressure to be brilliant, just listen to what’s exciting them this time of year. Ask questions about their adventures, tell stories about your life, and most of all be engaged in their lives. Frequently, there’s no time at a holiday gathering to pull nieces and nephews aside and spend quality time with them. This style of holiday tradition makes it possible, so take advantage. The setting is perfect for you to build a stronger bond with your nieces and nephews, and I’m sure they’ll be thrilled to have such unfettered access to their favorite aunts and uncles, too.

Ultimately, family is the theme of any holiday. If you can find a way to enjoy special events during this busy time, you all come out of it with a smile. Happy Uncling!

Jeff Cutler - http://jeffcutler.com - is a freelance journalist, social media trainer and content specialist. He regularly reports from events all over the world and even recently reported from 30,000 feet on a JetBlue flight with Wifi - http://bit.ly/flyfi1 - his office in the air.

Photo: JPott via Flickr cc
Published: December 18, 2013