This Mom Is Choosing A Relaxing "NO-vember" Where The Entire Family Stays Home

"I just looked at my family's calendar for this week, and it's completely overwhelming. We have an evening social event scheduled every single night for a week - and it only gets worse from there as we creep closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The holidays have barely started and I'm already wondering when I'll be able to get a moment of rest. I'm not alone. A lot of families are feeling the stress this month - and one mom has put her foot down."

"Hilary explained what No-vember is in a series of slides, answering FAQs and sharing exactly how this month of no obligations works. The general idea is that for the entire month of November, the family turns down every invitation if it falls outside of their family unit. "My family (and I) felt overwhelmed by the level of over-committing that was happening due to extracurriculars, play dates, adult plans, etc," she explains in one caption."

"She goes on to explain that it really does mean saying "no" to everything that involves "giving energy" to anything outside of their private sphere. The result? The whole family gets to recharge for 30 days. "Our children (and us!) have time to relax," she writes. "99% of our family arguments happen when we're in a rush to get somewhere. We spend our evenings just being together, finding activities to do together, and being intentional with quality time.""

A family instituted "No-vember", a month during which they decline all invitations outside their household for the entire month of November. The timing aligns with the end of soccer season, providing a buffer to regroup before holiday obligations. The practice means saying no to anything that requires giving energy to people outside the private sphere. The family uses the month to recharge for 30 days, relax, and spend intentional quality time together. Most family arguments, which previously occurred during rushed departures, decreased. After three years the family reports minimal FOMO and no pushback from friends.

Read at Scary Mommy