Navigating a Military Move During the Holidays

The holidays and end of 2018 are upon us and many of us military families will be packing up our things and moving onto our next duty station. Moving is one of the hardest things about military life, especially when it falls during the holidays. Many families will celebrate in hotels or temporary lodging and away from friends or family members.

I polled some fellow military moms who have moved during the holiday season and here are some of their tips: 

• Pack your crock pot or instant pot so that you can make home-cooked meals. Your family, waistline, and budget will appreciate it. 
• Purchase a mini tree and ornaments to decorate your hotel or temporary lodging. Target and the Dollar Tree are great places to shop for these items! 
• Develop family traditions. Maybe you get Chinese takeout on Christmas Eve, and that becomes your family tradition every year, or you have a Christmas picnic each year instead of a big dinner with the fancy china and linen napkins. 
•  If you are spending the holidays in your new home,  use this time to explore! Ask a local where the best display of Christmas lights are, visit a new museum or zoo or see a movie (most movie theaters are open on Christmas Day). 
• Be sure to bring your stockings along and pack some command strips to hang them in your hotel with no fuss!  

This month is filled with lots of great events. One of my favorite local things here in the area is driving down Candy Cane Lane and viewing the incredible light display. This year, Morse Drive in Pacific Grove will be open from December 3-31. There is no charge to drive through Candy Cane Lane and if you haven’t visited, you must! The neighbors do an amazing job going all out for the holidays. My daughter asked to go back multiple times in December. So grab your hot chocolate and take a stroll down Candy Cane Lane! 

Another fantastic event to take note of is The Nutcracker; A Monterey Peninsula Tradition with Monterey County Pops! Orchestra LIVE! Presented by Dance Kids. Performances will take place on Friday, December 7 to Sunday, December 8. Visit www.suncenter.org for tickets. I am pleased to share that they do offer a discounted ticket for the military.  

If your little one needs an abbreviated Nutcracker performance, consider My Very First Nutcracker at the Hammer Theatre Center in San Jose. This one-hour performance is perfect for children and toddler of all ages and tickets start at just $12.50 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at www.hammertheatre.com/events/. Children under two are admitted to the theater through a $10 lap pass that can be purchased at the box office. The box office opens 90 minutes before each show and performances are on December 15, 16, 22, 23 and 24. 

If you would like to stay active during the holidays, the Jingle Bell 5K is the perfect opportunity! The race will take place in Pacific Grove at Lover’s Point Park and will benefit the Arthritis Foundation. You can register online at www.events.arthritis.org. Registration starts at $25, and there is a kid’s run option for just $20. 

Each year, my family and I try to share the holiday spirit with those who are less fortunate. Whether you volunteer at a shelter, serve a meal to those who are less fortunate or adopt a child for Christmas, giving back is so rewarding for the entire family and is a great yearly tradition to start. Here in Monterey, Al & Friends serves breakfast every Sunday morning on Del Monte Beach to anyone needing a meal. This is a great way to include your children in giving back and also to teach a lesson of gratitude. Visit www.alandfriends.org for more information and to learn how to volunteer. 

Another fun way to give back is through The Giving Sack. The Giving Sack Storybook and Sack is a great holiday tradition where you will read a book with your children, and then they will fill their sack (a large red bag) with toys to donate. You can learn more and order the book and sack at www.thegivingsack.com. 

I hope December is filled with lots of love and cheer for your family and best of luck to those military families who will be transitioning to their next duty station. I am looking forward to 2019!

Allison Chance is a military spouse and mom to Charlotte, 4, and Hux, 6 months. She is a Realtor and has been lucky to call Florida, Hawaii, and now California home during her family’s military adventure.