This is the second year of our family’s “Baking Cookies” Christmas tradition and this year I promised to focus on making memories and bask in the sound of excited, little giggles over perfection!

It wasn’t easy but I knew I didn’t want cookie making with my kids to have to be a stress-filled chore.

I admit, I did whisper a prayer to let go of my Mommy perfect benchmarks and allow the joy of childhood sweep me into the spirit of the Season.

And yes, used these 3 keys helped me stay on the stress-free track and just have F.U.N.!!

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1. Forget about the mess the kids are making.

You can always clean up later!

Apparently flour being thrown to the floor, flour fights, cookie dough smeared on table counters and cookie dough in one’s hair are all part of cookie making…in a child’s dictionary!

An E.B. Mommy Tip: Tape wax paper on the table or counter top you plan to do all your cookie dough rolling and shape cut outs on. It makes it easier to clean up and rolling out the dough is easier.

2. Understand that kids want to be active participants.

So yes, this does mean that you may not necessarily have perfectly uniform cookies…

And your angels may need surgery on their arms, gingerbread men require some toning up on their legs or reindeer sport missing tails…

but at the end of the day, you have happy kids who’re proud of their baked masterpieces.

3. Never lose your cool.

You honestly don’t want your kids to associate cookie baking family traditions with a barking Mom, right?

Yes, disciplining a child is important and firmly guiding them through each step is important…

but hold back from losing your cool.

I don’t know how many times my 2 1/2 year insisted on carrying cut out cookie shapes to the cookie tray despite my gentle nudgings to allow me to do this for him.

His clumsy little fingers are yet to learn how to delicately place a thin, soft, cookie dough shape on a tray, so he had more than just a few cookie crumble accidents.

Though I was so tempted to say “Stop! Let Mama do this for you.“, I held back.

Anyone with a toddler would know a “No” would only result in tears…

possibly a melt down…

and no more cookie baking fun for the rest of the day!

So yes, though oh so very hard, I chose to hold my peace!

After close to an hour of child approval sealed fun, we were done!

Cookies were rolled out, cut, baked and devoured with immense satisfaction.

And yes, memories…

sweet memories…

were made.

Create a “YesMemory” with your kids

As a YesVideo ambassador, I’m encouraging you to make an effort to create memories with your kids.

Life zooms by way too fast and before you know it your little ones won’t be little any more!

Take lots of pictures, videos and preserve those memories for a lifetime.

And don’t forget to create a YesVideo DVD to safely store this all for the years to come.

If you’re on Facebook, come share your family memories on the YesVideo wall,  on Twitter using the #YesMemory hashtag or on Instagram.

Every life is a story. Share yours.

Does your family have a special Christmas tradition?

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**EBMR Disclaimer: As a YesVideo Ambassador, though I am being compensated for my time, the heart of this post is all me!**