Every year this happens and every year I forget that it does. The holidays start getting closer and I literally lose my mind.
As a child, I loved Christmas. And since I got married, that all changed. I feel like the whole event is crammed pack with obligations to be so many places that we are exhausted and overstuffed and cranky by the end. I am so jealous of the one house families who can relax in one place and even nap after eating.
We put on our track shoes Christmas Eve and race through the holiday like Jackie Joyner Kersey. Not sure on spelling, but you get the point... We eat all we can muster to avoid hurt feelings and conjure up as much bonding time as possible in a short period.
I know what you're thinking. Cut back. Don't do as much. But it just isn't possible to leave these houses out. We've already left everything out that we possibly can.
And don't even get me started on how much I want the decorations down, the presents opened and put away and the tree drug to the curb. It's totally driving my OCD crazy!!!
Then you add in kids who I feel we are always trying to make this magical for. Between Santa visits, Elf on a Shelf, crafts, baking and other such cutesy activities, I feel like I'm pretending to be Martha Stewart around here. Which anyone who knows me would say couldn't be further from who I really am.
So, I'm trying to regain my focus and calm. Remember how sweet her face will be opening her presents. Enjoy our Christmas Eve services at our church. Thank God for my precious miracle babies. And then enjoy the 26th when life can go back to normal!!!
As a child, I loved Christmas. And since I got married, that all changed. I feel like the whole event is crammed pack with obligations to be so many places that we are exhausted and overstuffed and cranky by the end. I am so jealous of the one house families who can relax in one place and even nap after eating.
We put on our track shoes Christmas Eve and race through the holiday like Jackie Joyner Kersey. Not sure on spelling, but you get the point... We eat all we can muster to avoid hurt feelings and conjure up as much bonding time as possible in a short period.
I know what you're thinking. Cut back. Don't do as much. But it just isn't possible to leave these houses out. We've already left everything out that we possibly can.
And don't even get me started on how much I want the decorations down, the presents opened and put away and the tree drug to the curb. It's totally driving my OCD crazy!!!
Then you add in kids who I feel we are always trying to make this magical for. Between Santa visits, Elf on a Shelf, crafts, baking and other such cutesy activities, I feel like I'm pretending to be Martha Stewart around here. Which anyone who knows me would say couldn't be further from who I really am.
So, I'm trying to regain my focus and calm. Remember how sweet her face will be opening her presents. Enjoy our Christmas Eve services at our church. Thank God for my precious miracle babies. And then enjoy the 26th when life can go back to normal!!!
I feel your pain. I'd go into detail but you never know who's going to see these things LOL!! But trust me, I FEEL YOUR PAIN!! Just keep reminding yourself it will all be over soon :)
ReplyDeleteI'm just about to post something similar. I'm trying to be in the moment, but it's so hard sometimes.
ReplyDeleteBEfore we had kids and moved away from our home state, we went to SIX houses between christmas Eve and Christmas. It was insane! Everyone else sat in their warm cozy homes, and we traveled from home to home to home. We always said when we had kids, no more, people could come to us. We aren't close to home anymore, so we desperately miss our family. That is the flip side - we do get to stay home on christmas (but Jason works EVERY Christmas, usually in the afternoon/evening) - but we don't get to see our family. I'm not sure which is better, but I have chosen to focus on the blessing that our down time is instead of the sadness I feel in missing our family. I am TRYING (not always successfully) to really focus on the beauty in each thing, even the things that make me angry, frustrated and sad, lol!
ReplyDeleteAnd I am totally with you on the crafts, treats, etc. I see fb posts and go, "Damn, I'm a bad mom because we didn't decorate Christmas cookies together" or "because we didn't do elf on the shelf (I can't stand that thing, lol)." But then I realize that I did what I am comfortable with - I pushed myself a little and we decorated a gingerbread house...but I know where my limit is so I did not push too much. There were people doing special "Advent" activities every day! Seriously?!
Anyway, I just wanted to say that we all know it is hard - boy is it! The holidays bring parenting to a whole new level lol! Oh, yeah, and I love my stuff back to normal too - but I do enjoy a month of the beauty of christmas lights when the house is dark:). Hang in there, momma, just a few more days!
I'm late with reading this post, but I feel your pain. I mean I literally feel it today ;) I love the holidays, but now with kids it really kind of turns it in to a hassle. I know that sounds horrible, but so many places, so many "things" and just pure exhaustion. I need a vacation now :) Let me put a positive in here though. I do feel very blessed to have those two amazing boys to share it with now. In a different way it makes Christmas fun again.
ReplyDelete